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Orthopedic & Manual Therapy Blog

Picture

Explaining Your Rehab Time Frames

11/9/2019

6 Comments

 

"How Long Will It Take to Get Better After My Surgery?"

Patients often have unrealistic expectations regarding their rehabilitation prognosis and expected symptoms throughout each stage of the healing process.  I like to use the graph below to help educate patients regarding how long it takes to feel 'normal' post-surgery. While 12 months can seem daunting for many patients, this timeframe is an honest and realistic approach to surgical tissue healing. 

Graph Overview

Picture
PHYSICAL THERAPY PHASE (0-3 months)
During the first 12 weeks following trauma or onset of symptoms, patients are generally improving. From a physiological perspective, collagen is maturing, remodeling, and getting stronger. In this stage patients are almost solely attending physical therapy and performing corrective exercises. At the end of 12 weeks, patients likely will feel 60-70% back to their prior level of function. Individuals who perform desk jobs should be back at full duty; more strenuous jobs are still on partial duty.

COMBO GYM + CONTINUED PHYSICAL THERAPY REHAB (3-6 months)
From 3-6 months the patient usually begins their normal gym routine (strength training and cardiovascular exercise) while performing rehabilitation concurrently. I generally think of this phase as someone attending PT 1x/week and performing their gym routine 3-4x/week. In this phase, the individual is starting to feel significantly better, but they have not reached full strength yet. They still have some discomfort (not necessarily pain), and transitional movements, such as getting out of bed and getting up from a chair are still not normal. Ultimately, they still need more work! 

FULL RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITY/SPORT (6-12 months)

From 6-12 months, the patient has typically stopped their formal rehabilitation program. They are now performing their normal gym routine and daily activities. The individual continues to progress strength, mobility, flexibility, but now has all the tools needed to be independent. The occasional flare up may occur (especially if a novel training movement is incorporated), but is not anticipated. At the end of the 9-12 months, they should have reached life as usual.

Closing Points

Many patients do NOT realize how long post-surgery rehabilitation takes. In my active cash-based population, many of my patient's have self proclaimed high pain tolerances and feel better relatively quickly. Despite subjectively feeling strong, practitioners must remember that scar tissue continues to mature and remodel for 2+ years! Strengthening and retraining movement patterns will take months (even after the patient feels better). Reaching 100% pain free and 'normal' activity generally takes longer than someone will anticipate. Being honest and giving appropriate education early on can change a patient's outlook on their condition. Use this graph when educating your patients!
​-Jim Heafner PT, DPT, OCS
6 Comments
Kristofer Van Wagner link
8/11/2021 02:41:16 pm

You made an excellent point that it is important to ensure we are aware of the rehabilitation timeline. In doing so, we will have an idea how long we will undergo therapy. Since my mom will undergo knee surgery, I will definitely ask her orthopedic rehab specialist to determine the timeline of her recovery period.

Reply
Physiotherapy in St Albert link
6/6/2022 05:24:39 am

If your recovery is slow, be patient and follow any discharge plan you have been given, including taking medication, doing exercise and visiting with your healthcare professional.

Reply
srikanth link
8/17/2022 05:53:46 am

This Blog Is Very Helpful And Informative For This Particular Topic. I Appreciate Your Effort That Has Been Taken To Write This Blog For Us. physical therapy after laminectomy, back surgery rehab, rehabilitation after spinal surgery, rehabilitation after lumbar disc surgery, rehabilitation after back surgery, post spinal surgery physiotherapy, physiotherapy after back surgery, post spinal surgery rehabilitation, rehabilitation after spinal fusion, physiotherapy after lumbar spine surgery. <a href="https://curerehab.in/Post-Spine-Surgery-Rehabilitation"> physiotherapy in Hyderabad </a>

Reply
Victoria Addington link
9/29/2022 11:12:13 am

I was captured when you discussed that a normal gym routine begins from 3-6 months. My friend wants to recover faster. I should advise him to go to a clinic that provides physical rehabilitation.

Reply
Austin U. link
2/21/2023 08:28:59 pm

Please remember to always follow the rehabilitation plan recommended by your healthcare team since it will be customized to your specific needs and condition. Take things slowly, and listen to your body. Also, avoid overexertion, especially in the early phases of recovery. Allow your body to heal at its own pace.

Reply
Steve Smith link
3/22/2023 07:31:29 pm

I like that you said that implementing appropriate exercise and therapy could help treat body problems. A friend of mine mentioned the other day that he was hoping to find a physical therapist to help his brother with a spine injury after a car accident. He asked if I had any idea on the best option for problem prevention. Thanks to this helpful article. I'll tell him it will be much better if they consult a trusted physical therapist as they provide proper treatment.

Reply



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    Dr. Jim Heafner & Dr. Chris Fox write about their treatment philosophy.

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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Insider Access
    • About Insider Access
  • Online Courses
    • Hooper's Knee
    • Physical Therapist Entrepreneur Course
    • Physical Therapist Consultant Course
    • Orthopedic Management of the Cervical Spine
    • Return to Sport Essentials Course
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Business Minded Sports Physio Podcast
    • Day in the Life of a Sports PT
    • Residency Corner
    • Special Tests >
      • Cervical Spine >
        • Alar Ligament Test
        • Bakody's Sign
        • Cervical Distraction Test
        • Cervical Rotation Lateral Flexion Test
        • Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT)
        • Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test
        • Posterior-Anterior Segmental Mobility
        • Segmental Mobility
        • Sharp-Purser Test
        • Spurling's Maneuver
        • Transverse Ligament Test
        • ULNT - Median
        • ULNT - Radial
        • ULNT - Ulnar
        • Vertebral Artery Test
      • Thoracic Spine >
        • Adam's Forward Bend Test
        • Passive Neck Flexion Test
        • Thoracic Compression Test
        • Thoracic Distraction Test
        • Thoracic Foraminal Closure Test
      • Lumbar Spine/Sacroiliac Joint >
        • Active Sit-Up Test
        • Alternate Gillet Test
        • Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test
        • Extensor Endurance Test
        • FABER Test
        • Fortin's Sign
        • Gaenslen Test
        • Gillet Test
        • Gower's Sign
        • Lumbar Quadrant Test
        • POSH Test
        • Posteroanterior Mobility
        • Prone Knee Bend Test
        • Prone Instability Test
        • Resisted Abduction Test
        • Sacral Clearing Test
        • Seated Forward Flexion Test
        • SIJ Compression/Distraction Test
        • Slump Test
        • Sphinx Test
        • Spine Rotators & Multifidus Test
        • Squish Test
        • Standing Forward Flexion Test
        • Straight Leg Raise Test
        • Supine to Long Sit Test
      • Shoulder >
        • Active Compression Test
        • Anterior Apprehension
        • Biceps Load Test II
        • Drop Arm Sign
        • External Rotation Lag Sign
        • Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Sign
        • Horizontal Adduction Test
        • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
        • Jobe Test
        • Ludington's Test
        • Neer Test
        • Painful Arc Sign
        • Pronated Load Test
        • Resisted Supination External Rotation Test
        • Speed's Test
        • Posterior Apprehension
        • Sulcus Sign
        • Thoracic Outlet Tests >
          • Adson's Test
          • Costoclavicular Brace
          • Hyperabduction Test
          • Roos (EAST)
        • Yergason's Test
      • Elbow >
        • Biceps Squeeze Test
        • Chair Sign
        • Cozen's Test
        • Elbow Extension Test
        • Medial Epicondylalgia Test
        • Mill's Test
        • Moving Valgus Stress Test
        • Push-up Sign
        • Ulnar Nerve Compression Test
        • Valgus Stress Test
        • Varus Stress Test
      • Wrist/Hand >
        • Allen's Test
        • Carpal Compression Test
        • Finkelstein Test
        • Phalen's Test
        • Reverse Phalen's Test
      • Hip >
        • Craig's Test
        • Dial Test
        • FABER Test
        • FAIR Test
        • Fitzgerald's Test
        • Hip Quadrant Test
        • Hop Test
        • Labral Anterior Impingement Test
        • Labral Posterior Impingement Test
        • Long-Axis Femoral Distraction Test
        • Noble Compression Test
        • Percussion Test
        • Sign of the Buttock
        • Trendelenburg Test
      • Knee >
        • Anterior Drawer Test
        • Dial Test (Tibial Rotation Test)
        • Joint Line Tenderness
        • Lachman Test
        • McMurray Test
        • Noble Compression Test
        • Pivot-Shift Test
        • Posterior Drawer Test
        • Posterior Sag Sign
        • Quad Active Test
        • Thessaly Test
        • Valgus Stress Test
        • Varus Stress Test
      • Foot/Ankle >
        • Anterior Drawer
        • Calf Squeeze Test
        • External Rotation Test
        • Fracture Screening Tests
        • Impingement Sign
        • Navicular Drop Test
        • Squeeze Test
        • Talar Tilt
        • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Test
        • Test for Interdigital Neuroma
        • Windlass Test