Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

Ivy Rehab / Therapy Services / Physical Therapy / Post-Surgical Treatment

Treatment after surgery

Physical therapy after surgery is extremely important for ensuring a full recovery. In addition to many other benefits, post-surgical rehabilitation can also help you regain full range of motion in the affected area. Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy specializes in post-surgical physical therapy for total joint replacements and partial tears of muscles and ligaments. In addition, surgeries related to hips, knees, arms, hands, shoulders, and feet/ankles often require physical therapy for optimal recovery.

Post-surgical physical therapy doesn’t just help ensure proper recovery, it also helps patients get moving again after surgery. Many times, surgery can make you feel debilitated and leads to long stretches at home where you live a mostly sedentary lifestyle. Physical therapy after surgery helps to get you out of the house, back into the world and being social again.

find a location

Benefits of Post-Surgery Therapy

Engaging in post-surgical rehabilitation provides essential benefits for patients recovering from a surgical procedure. It’s not just about regaining strength—it’s about reducing pain, improving mobility, and restoring function in the affected joints and tissues. Whether you’ve had an orthopedic surgery or a more complex operation, physical therapy both before and after surgery can aid in the recovery process needed for optimal healing.

Reduce pain and inflammation without relying solely on medication
Strengthen weakened muscles and improve joint stability
Enhance mobility and increase independence in daily activities
Minimize the risk of complications such as scar tissue buildup
Promote faster healing by restoring blood flow and tissue flexibility
Support safe and steady reintegration into work, hobbies, or sports
Improve health outcomes with supervised movement and manual therapy

Provide emotional support and motivation during the recovery process

Goals of Post-Surgery Therapy

The ultimate goal of post-surgical physical therapy is to help patients recover safely, regain their independence, and return to doing the things they love. Each treatment plan is designed by a licensed physical therapist to address your unique needs and surgical history.

Key goals of post-surgery therapy include:

Restore full range of motion and natural joint function
Strengthen surrounding tissue and reduce weakness
Prevent future injury or strain during the rehabilitation process
Safely guide the patient through stretching, exercises, and progressive mobility work
Reduce reliance on pain medications by incorporating holistic, effective techniques
Address post-operative challenges such as stiffness, swelling, and delayed healing
Educate patients on how to move, lift, or return to activity without reinjury
Ensure full support through every stage of post-surgical rehab

Whether you’re recovering from a rotator cuff repair, knee reconstruction, or spinal fusion, Ivy Rehab’s expert team is here to provide individualized care and help you heal with confidence. From the first visit to the final milestone, our mission is to enhance your quality of life and get you back to doing what you love—safely and strongly.

Therapies We Offer:

Just a few of our customized post-surgical physical therapy treatments include:

UCL repairs (Tommy John Surgery)
Elbow reconstructive surgeries
Cervical and lumbar laminectomy and fusion
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery
Knee-reconstruction surgeries
Meniscus repairs
Carpal tunnel release
Stress fractures
Ankle ligament repairs
Ankle fractures
Ankle fusion
Labrum repairs
Wrist fractures
Forearm fractures
Hand tendon repairs
Rotator cuff repair and other shoulder related surgeries

FAQs

How soon can I start physical therapy after surgery?

The timing of physical therapy after surgery depends on the type of surgery and your doctor’s recommendations. In many cases, physical therapy can begin within a few days to weeks after surgery to promote healing and reduce the risk of complications. Your physical therapist will work with you to ensure that you’re progressing safely and at a pace suited to your recovery.

Is post-surgical therapy necessary even if I feel okay after surgery?

Even if you feel okay after surgery, post-surgical therapy is essential to ensure a full recovery. Surgery can lead to muscle weakness, stiffness, and joint instability, which therapy can address. It also helps reduce the risk of complications like scar tissue buildup and ensures that you regain full mobility and strength. Physical therapy supports a smooth transition back to work, hobbies, and physical activities while minimizing the risk of reinjury.

What should I expect during post-surgical physical therapy sessions?

During post-surgical physical therapy, you can expect a personalized treatment plan focused on restoring range of motion, strengthening muscles, and improving mobility. Your therapist may guide you through stretches, strengthening exercises, manual therapy, and progressive mobility work. The goal is to help you regain independence in daily activities, reduce pain, and prevent future injury while providing support and motivation throughout the recovery process.

Recover Faster

Research has shown that attending as little as one pre-operative physical therapy session can help reduce the amount of post-operative care and lead to faster and more efficient recoveries.

Learn more about “pre-hab” and our total joint replacement program.

Find a Location

Check out some of our 4 and 5 star reviews

Excellent

Excel Physical Therapy4.9

See all reviews

review us on

PTW is Wonderful !! Each person on the superb team gives their knowledge, support and encouragement. I feel so much better and was able to walk on the sandy beach during our vacation in Hawaii. Many Thanks to Alex, Candice, Jackie, Kaitlin, Michelle, Minh, and Ryan !! ( in alphabetical order)

Connie Darrow is an excellent PT. She really took the time to listen and help me overcome severe pain that I was having. She got me back to full pain free functioning and now I have daily exercises that will keep me pain free. Highly recommend this office and Connie specifically.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Princeton

I absolutely love AK and his team. I have suffered from TMJ for 20 years and tried everything under the sun. It wasn't until AK took the time to fully understand my pain and give me the TLC I needed. He is a wizard with the dry needling and it has taken my pain level from as high as 8 to a 1 or 2. I dribe a solid hour each way to come here. The team is amazing, so kind and helpful and always making sure I am comfortable. They know I get cold and are so accommodating with extra covers. It seems silly but it's the little touches that make a difference. Lastly, we have fun! Such a fun group and I'm guaranteed to laugh each appointment.

Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to share this review, it means so much! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Naperville

Amanda was great. She explained ver well. Took her time, did not rush me and did different exercise with me and also gave me exercise at home. On the whole i am very satisfied.

Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to share this review, it means so much! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Blue Bell

The entire team at Progress PT on Delaware Ave is an absolute pleasure to work with. Professional, attentive, kind, and committed to their patients' rehabilitation — I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thank you Amanda, Jenna, and Peter for strengthening my knee and for all the good times! Will be visiting with Leo soon 🙂

I recently had knee replacement surgery and now am going to Ivy Rehab for my therapy. I find the people there to be very knowledgeable, helpful and kind. I guess I made the right choice for my therapy. Thank you very much

My son has been a client of ABC Therapy for many years. We have really appreciated the work all of his therapists have done. He has done speech, OT and PT here. We haven't had a therapist yet that we didn't love. They all have done a wonderful job and they are very good with the kids. We were sad to see some of them go on to other places, but the new therapists are just as wonderful as the ones that left. The "woman's" that work the desk are very friendly and helpful. They make check-in warm and inviting. I highly recommend this place for any therapy your child needs. Parents can go back and watch the therapy session if they want or wait in the lobby. I personally like to observe the session and see what strategy they use to keep my son on track and to learn some good tricks to do at home.

Ivy Rehab is a great physical therapy company! They have a great staff and very professional physical therapist! There’s no better place to help you start your healing journey than Ivy Rehab!

Great staff, great therapy. I learned so much about completely restructuring my workout routines to treat my body better. Many thanks to Dr. Annie for her instruction and guidance! Truly enjoyed working with Jocelyn – her sense of humor made my motivation for the physical work rise to great heights.

Response from the owner:We're so happy to hear this feedback – thank you for choosing us! The team at Synergy Rehab and Wellness – Staunton

Ivy Rehab provides outstanding care, and I can’t speak highly enough of Molly, one of their highly accredited physical therapists. She is not only incredibly knowledgeable and skilled, but also genuinely kind, supportive, and positive. Every session with her is uplifting and effective—I leave feeling physically stronger and in a better mood. The atmosphere at Ivy Rehab is always welcoming, and Molly’s expertise truly sets the standard for excellent physical therapy.

Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to leave such thoughtful feedback, we're grateful! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Rhinebeck

After years of playing football, lifting weights, etc. the wear and tear caught up with me. When I arrived at Maximum Performance, I was frustrated with some shoulder instability and debilitating elbow tendonitis. The team at Maximum Performance provided high quality, friendly care through every step of my recovery. James, Hero and Paige each have their own slightly different unique styles with their manual treatments. I found this to be a huge benefit in comparison to other clinics, working with all three of them. The recommended exercises were dynamic and always adjustable based on my body’s response. If you are looking for a PT team that is knowledgeable, honest and genuine, look no further!

Response from the owner:Justin , Thank you for your kind words and review! We are happy that you had such great experience with all our therapists and that everyone’s unique styles resulted in the ultimate outcome! We appreciate your referral and hope that if ever in need , you reach out to our clinic! Thank you 🙂

Amazing service, they accommodate well to fit your schedule. Doctor Chris does a great job at helping me with the pain in my jaw, back, and hips. Amber is very professional and runs the service desk effortlessly allowing my appointments to go smoothly.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words; we appreciate your feedback! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Caledonia

Great facility, very friendly and extremely skilled staff, definitely recommended for all rehabilitation needs. Special thanks to Dr. Stephen Moser; one of the nicest and most knowledgeable of physical therapists.

Response from the owner:That's wonderful to hear – thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us! – The team at Ivy Rehab, Somerset!

Great experience! You receive an in depth initial assessment to determine a program to address your needs and meet your goals. The therapists are professional, well skilled and friendly.

Response from the owner:It’s great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Bala Cynwyd

Kate has been working with our special needs child for almost a year and they’ve made amazing progress with her and we look forward to continued progress.

Response from the owner:Hearing this feedback means so much to us – thank you for sharing! – The team at Ivy Rehab for Kids – Bensalem

They are the best! The best service ever. I had to come last year for my knee and Terry was great. This year 2025, I had a muscle strain near my deltoid area. Connor was excellent. There were times when he was unable to tend to me and other staff members picked up. Sometimes we take our muscles/bones and other body parts for granted. I am thankful for this extremely knowledgeable staff. Have a great rest of your year Ivy Rehab on Walnut St.!

Response from the owner:We're thrilled you had such a positive experience, thank you! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Philadelphia – Center City

Hadn’t been to Ivy since before they changed names but happy to say that quality of service has only gotten better over time. The front desk is always helpful with any issues you may have, going above and beyond to help you get things resolved. All of the staff is super friendly making you feel right at home. I personally worked with Lydia & to say that she is great is an understatement. No nonsense, very compassionate towards the issues you may be dealing with and overall just pleasant to deal with. Cannot suggest Ivy enough to anybody needing to recover from injuries!

Response from the owner:It's great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Island Park

Ivy Rehab is great. Both the therapists are excellent and the receptionist, Irene, is knowledgeable and efficient. I've been there multiple times for different injuries over the last few years and they've always gotten me back on my feet (sometimes literally). Highly recommended!

The park sports team / environment is great!! I worked with Megan for a while on my lower back and learned so much about my body and made improvements on my back pain. She’s awesome!!

Response from the owner:We value your feedback, thank you for your kind words! – The team at Park Sports Physical Therapy – Brooklyn – Williamsburg

Shashank Mishra at Flatbush Ave helped me enormously. I came in with a fractured shoulder, extremely anxious, and he was very knowledgeable and compassionate and put my mind at ease. He pushed me to move without being aggressive, and over the course of 4 months I saw enormous progress. I really don't think I would have recovered as well as I did without his help. I also appreciate the professionalism of the whole Ivy Rehab group. Everything was very well-organized and they were able to work with my insurance seamlessly.

Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing this with us! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Brooklyn – Fort Greene

This is by far the best place to go to for physical therapy. I was in a lot of pain and didn’t even realize how much my morale changed because of it. Chaundree was my physical therapist and he was so kind, very knowledgeable and literally brought me back to life. I’m not one for physical therapy, I usually skip out after a few sessions but not only did Chaundree help me but the whole team was a true delight to be around. Kida at the front desk was so helpful and understanding when I first called and was in a lot of pain. Hamza, Vicky, Soya, Mark and Kaylyn helped me work through some of my exercises and pushed me in the best way. I can’t thank this team enough for what they did for me. I highly recommend this place. If I ever need physical therapy again I won’t go anywhere else.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, we appreciate you! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Naperville