How soon after surgery should I start physical therapy?

Your surgeon decides, and for many surgeries rehab starts quickly. OrthoInfo notes that most knee replacement patients can begin exercising the knee hours after surgery. Call us once you have a surgery date so we can plan your first outpatient visit around your discharge.

Do I need a referral for physical therapy after surgery?

Most patients have a prescription from their surgeon, and we ask you to bring it with the rehab protocol. New York's direct access rule allows 10 visits or 30 days without a referral, but your surgeon's instructions guide post-operative care and many insurers expect a referral to pay. Medicare does not require a referral to start, though your physician certifies the plan of care.

Can physical therapy help with a meniscus tear or labral tear?

Physical therapy is commonly part of care for meniscus and labral tears, with or without surgery. The right plan depends on your diagnosis and your surgeon's recommendation. Call us with your details and we will explain what rehab here would involve.

Post-Surgical Rehab in Buffalo, NY | Lake Erie Physical Therapy

Q: What should I bring to my first post-surgical visit?

Bring your surgeon's prescription and rehab protocol, the operative report if you have it, your insurance card and a medication list. Wear clothing that lets us see the surgical area, such as shorts for a knee or hip. Arrive 30 minutes early for paperwork, or complete the forms through the digital intake link we email you.

The protocol your surgeon sends home with you is the rulebook for the first weeks of rehab. It spells out what you can move, how much weight the limb can take, and when restrictions lift. Whether you need physical therapy after knee surgery, a hip replacement or a shoulder repair, rehab at Lake Erie Physical Therapy in Buffalo starts with that protocol and builds from there, one milestone at a time.

How we work with your surgeon

The protocol comes first. If your surgeon limits motion, weight bearing or sling use, those limits hold even on days you feel ready for more.
We keep the office informed. If progress stalls or a symptom concerns us, we contact your surgeon’s office.
We don’t skip steps. Healing tissue needs time. OrthoInfo notes, for example, that after rotator cuff repair, poor outcomes are more likely when patients don’t fully participate in rehab or don’t follow activity restrictions.

What outpatient rehab includes

Your first visit is a thorough one-on-one evaluation with a physical therapist, who builds your plan from the surgeon’s protocol and what we find. From there, visits are with your physical therapist and with our physical therapist assistant, working under the therapist’s plan. Depending on your surgery and phase, rehab can include:

Swelling and pain control, with pain-relieving modalities when indicated
Restoring motion within your protocol’s limits, with hands-on techniques when they help
Retraining muscles that weaken after surgery, starting gently
Walking, stairs, and getting in and out of chairs, beds and cars
Strength, balance and the specific tasks you want back, from yard work to sport
Blood flow restriction training in some cases, with your surgeon’s approval and after screening

Your home exercise program matters as much as the clinic visits, and we update it as you progress.

Physical therapy after knee surgery

Knee replacement rehab: total and partial knee replacement, from early bending and straightening to stairs and longer walks
ACL rehab: prehab before reconstruction, protected early phases, then return-to-sport testing
Meniscus surgery and other knee procedures: call us with your surgeon’s protocol and we will explain what rehab here would look like

Hip and shoulder surgery

Hip replacement rehab: built around the precautions your surgeon gives you, which vary with the surgical approach
Rotator cuff and shoulder surgery rehab: from the sling period through strength and overhead use
Labral repairs in the hip or shoulder, Achilles repairs and other orthopedic procedures: ask us, and bring the protocol

Before surgery: prehab

Rehab can start before the operation. ChoosePT notes that some surgeons refer patients for a short course of physical therapy before ACL surgery to decrease swelling and improve knee motion. If your surgeon recommends prehab before your procedure, we can start then.

Call your surgeon, not us, when

Physical therapy does not replace your surgeon’s follow-up care. OrthoInfo lists these warning signs after knee replacement; ask your surgeon which apply to your procedure:

Increasing calf pain, tenderness or redness around the knee, or new swelling in the calf, ankle or foot (possible blood clot)
Sudden shortness of breath or sudden chest pain (possible clot in the lung): get emergency care
Persistent fever over 100°F, chills, increasing redness or swelling at the incision, or drainage from it (possible infection)
Pain that keeps increasing with both activity and rest

If we see any of these during a visit, we will stop and help you reach your surgeon.

Coverage and what to bring

Post-surgical physical therapy is billed like other outpatient PT, so coverage depends on your plan; please confirm with us. Medicare does not require a referral to start, but your physician certifies the plan of care, and Medicare Advantage plans may require prior authorization. Read more about Medicare and physical therapy. The NY Essential Plan covers outpatient PT only after surgery or a hospital stay, with a physician order, up to 60 visits per condition. Copays and deductibles are due at each visit.

Bring your surgeon’s prescription and protocol, the operative report, your insurance card and a medication list. Wear clothing that lets us see the surgical area: shorts for a hip or knee, a sleeveless or loose shirt for a shoulder.

Have a surgery date? Call (716) 332-4838 and we’ll plan your first visit, or send a request online.

Sources

Written by the Lake Erie Physical Therapy clinical team. This page is general information, not a diagnosis; your physical therapist will assess your situation in person.

Physical Therapy After Surgery