Pre & Post Orthopaedic Surgery Physiotherapy in the Toronto Annex

Orthopaedic surgery is a significant step toward improving pain, movement, or joint function. Whether you are preparing for a joint replacement, arthroscopic repair, or spinal procedure, physiotherapy can help you prepare for surgery and progress through rehabilitation afterward.

At Resilience Physiotherapy in the Toronto Annex, we provide pre- and post-operative orthopaedic surgery physiotherapy tailored to your procedure, current abilities, and long-term goals. Your treatment plan may include manual therapy, neuromuscular retraining, and targeted exercise to help manage post-surgical swelling, restore movement, and build the strength and control needed for daily activities, work, or sport.

A woman is lying on a chiropractic table during a physical therapy session while a therapist adjusts her leg. The room is bright with natural light, decorated with potted plants on the windowsill, and has beige curtains and a wall clock.

The Power of "Pre-Hab": Why You Should Start Physio Before Surgery

Pre-operative physiotherapy, often called pre-habilitation or pre-hab, helps you prepare for the physical demands of surgery and recovery. Before your procedure, your physiotherapist can assess your current movement, strength, and mobility, then create a plan that supports the areas most relevant to your surgery.

Pre-hab can also help you understand the early movements, exercises, and mobility strategies you may use after surgery. Starting with that familiarity can make the transition into post-operative rehabilitation feel more manageable.

The primary goals of our customized pre-operative programs include:

Building strength around the surgical area: Targeted exercise helps prepare the surrounding muscles for the reduced activity that often follows surgery.
Improving baseline joint mobility: Addressing stiffness before surgery can support your early rehabilitation plan afterward.
Practising early recovery movements: Learning exercises, breathing strategies, and assistive-device mobility, such as using crutches or walkers, can help you feel more prepared for the first stages of recovery.
Establishing a recovery plan: Your physiotherapist can help you understand what to expect from rehabilitation and how your program will progress alongside your surgeon’s instructions.

  
     Post-Operative Rehabilitation: A Phased, Criteria-Based Approach
Recovery after surgery follows a tissue-healing process that varies by procedure and individual. Our post-operative rehabilitation plans are structured around your surgical instructions, healing stage, symptoms, movement capacity, and functional goals.
            
Rather than progressing by a fixed timeline alone, we use appropriate clinical milestones to guide rehabilitation. This approach helps protect healing tissues while gradually rebuilding mobility, strength, and confidence with movement.
           
                        Phase 1: Pain Modulation, Swelling Management, and Early Mobility

In the first days or weeks after surgery, treatment commonly focuses on managing swelling, protecting the surgical area, restoring safe early movement, and supporting circulation. Depending on your procedure and surgeon’s protocol, your physiotherapy may include gentle range-of-motion work, muscle activation exercises, gait retraining, and education on moving safely at home.
                    
Phase 2: Restoring Range of Motion and Foundational Strength

As healing progresses and your surgeon’s restrictions allow, your program shifts toward restoring joint mobility and rebuilding foundational strength. Your physiotherapist will introduce progressive exercises that address muscle weakness, movement changes, and the protective patterns that can develop after surgery.
                    
Phase 3: Advanced Functional Strengthening and Return to Activity

The final stage of rehabilitation connects clinical exercise with the activities that matter in your everyday life. Whether your goal is to manage stairs at Spadina Station, carry groceries, return to work, or resume sport, your program will focus on the strength, control, and movement demands involved.

  
                    Orthopaedic Surgeries We Frequently Rehabilitate
                
Our registered physiotherapists provide pre- and post-operative care for a range of orthopaedic procedures, including:

Knee Surgeries

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstructions, meniscus repairs, and patellar stabilization surgeries.
                        
Hip Surgeries

Total hip arthroplasty (THA), hip arthroscopy for labral tears, and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) corrections.                        

Shoulder Surgeries

Rotator cuff repairs, subacromial decompressions, labral repairs, including SLAP or Bankart repairs, and total shoulder replacements.                        

Spine Surgeries

Lumbar discectomies, spinal fusions, and cervical or lumbar laminectomies.
                        
Foot and Ankle Surgeries

Achilles tendon repairs, bunionectomies, and ankle fracture open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).                        

Your rehabilitation plan is always adapted to your procedure, surgeon’s recommendations, healing stage, and goals.

Convenient Post-Op Care Steps from the Spadina TTC Station

Getting around Toronto with restricted mobility after surgery can be challenging. Resilience Physiotherapy is located at 738 Spadina Ave, Suite 200, a three-minute walk south of Spadina TTC Subway Station, which connects Line 1 and Line 2.

Our second-floor clinic is elevator-accessible for patients arriving by transit, Wheel-Trans, drop-off, or from nearby areas including the University of Toronto campus, Yorkville, Little Italy, and Harbord Village.

Take Control of Your Surgical Recovery Journey

Whether your surgery is months away or you have recently been discharged from hospital, physiotherapy can help you prepare for the next stage of recovery. Our team will assess your needs, follow relevant post-operative instructions, and build a program around the movement and activities you want to return to.

BOOK YOUR PRE- OR POST-OPERATIVE ASSESSMENT ONLINE

or call or text our team at 647-691-5447 to schedule your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surgical Physiotherapy

The right start time depends on your procedure and your surgeon’s instructions. Some orthopaedic procedures involve early mobilization, while others require a period of protection or immobilization before rehabilitation progresses. Contacting us before surgery allows us to prepare for your post-operative plan and follow the guidance provided by your surgical team.
Please bring your surgical discharge paperwork, any protocol sheets from your orthopaedic surgeon, and recent imaging reports if you have them. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows your physiotherapist to assess the relevant area and your movement safely.
Rehabilitation can involve temporary discomfort as you restore movement, strength, and tolerance for activity. Your physiotherapist will work within your symptoms, surgical restrictions, and healing stage, adjusting treatment as needed to keep your program progressive and appropriate.