Prehab and Post-Op Rehab in Chicago
Physical Therapy Before and After Surgery
Surgery is only one part of your recovery. What you do before and after your procedure has a big impact on how quickly and how fully you get back to work, daily life, and the activities you love.
At our River North clinic, your physical therapist works with you one on one for the entire visit. Before surgery, we get your body ready. After surgery, we guide you safely back to full strength, following your surgeon's protocol every step of the way.
How Prehab and Post-Op Rehab Work
Prehab: getting ready for surgery. Prehab is physical therapy you start before your operation. The goal is to calm swelling, restore as much range of motion as possible, and build strength in the muscles around the injured area. Going into surgery stronger and moving better often makes the first weeks of recovery easier. Prehab is also a chance to learn your home exercises, practice with crutches or other equipment, and know what to expect so you feel prepared on surgery day.
Post-op rehab: recovering after surgery. After surgery, we follow your surgeon's protocol and progress you based on how you are healing. Early rehab focuses on protecting the repair, managing pain and swelling, and restoring motion. From there, we build strength, balance, and control, and work toward the goals that matter to you, whether that is walking without a limp, getting back to the gym, or returning to your sport.
We commonly help with:
- ACL reconstruction and other knee ligament surgery
- Meniscus repair and knee arthroscopy
- Total knee and total hip replacement
- Rotator cuff repair and shoulder stabilization surgery
- Hip arthroscopy and labral repair
- Achilles tendon repair
- Ankle ligament repair and fracture surgery
What to expect: Your first visit includes a detailed conversation about your surgery or upcoming procedure, your health history, and your goals, along with an assessment of your motion, strength, swelling, and movement. Your plan may include manual therapy, mobility work, progressive strengthening, balance training, and a home exercise program. We communicate with your surgeon throughout your care and keep them updated on your progress.
When to start: If you have surgery scheduled, starting prehab a few weeks beforehand is ideal when possible. After surgery, most patients begin physical therapy within the first week or two, depending on the procedure and your surgeon's instructions.
Preparing for or recovering from ACL, rotator cuff, or Achilles surgery as an athlete? See our sports injury treatment and rehab page to learn how we get you back to your sport.
Post-Surgical Rehab Programs
Learn more about our one-on-one rehab programs after these common surgeries:
- ACL Rehab
- Achilles Tendon Repair Rehab
- Hip Labral Repair Rehab
- Shoulder Labral Repair Rehab
- Rotator Cuff Repair Rehab
Other Surgeries We Treat
Don't see your surgery listed? We work with patients recovering from many orthopedic procedures, always following your surgeon's specific plan, including:
- Knee: knee arthroscopy, meniscus repair, quadriceps tendon repair, hamstring repair, total knee replacement, patellar stabilization (MPFL)
- Hip: gluteus medius repair, periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), total hip replacement
- Shoulder: shoulder arthroscopy, SLAP repair, subacromial decompression, total shoulder replacement
- Foot and ankle: ankle fracture repair (ORIF), ankle ligament reconstruction, bunion surgery
- Spine: discectomy, laminectomy, spinal fusion
- Elbow, wrist, and hand: tennis elbow surgery, ulnar nerve release, wrist fracture repair, carpal tunnel release
Call us at 312.643.1555 to talk through your surgery and recovery plan.