A physical therapist will work closely with a patients orthopedic surgeon post surgery. The physical therapy that will be undertaken after surgery of this kind is highly specialized and closely monitored by the treating surgeon. The role of the physical therapist is to assist the patient to build strength, function and motion in the affected limb or area and to help the patient to achieve a full recovery.

The physical therapist is guided strongly by the orthopedic surgeons treatment goals. Together they over see the recovery and injury management of the patient and prescribe suitable and injury or condition specific rehabilitative exercises. The physical therapy may include seemingly simple stretching exercises or it could be more advanced and include a hyperbaric chamber or ultra sound for deep tissue massage. All of these are injury specific and will all be determined by the treating doctor as well as the therapist. Some of these treatments can be an intensive program that require regular visits to the therapist, and others can be followed up with at home by doing exercises and specific stretches.

When you first seek the assistance of an Orthopedic surgeon you will be introduced to a team of professionals who will assist and monitor you in your recovery. The aim of the therapy is to have you mobile and active again as you were prior to the injury or condition occurring. The amount of time it will take for you to heal from orthopedic surgery is understandably dependent upon the injury or condition as well as the patients general health prior to the surgery. It can last from days through to weeks or months depending of course on the severity of the complaint. Working closely with a physical therapy practitioner will assist the patient to recover in the most optimal time frame as well as provide essential strength training in order to regain quality of life again as soon as possible.