Physio After Surgery in Vancouver: A Guide to Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Recovery from an operation is only half done when you leave the hospital. This guide to post-operative rehabilitation in Vancouver covers when to start physio after surgery, what your first appointment involves, how rehab moves from protecting the repair to rebuilding strength, and what to ask before you choose a clinic.

When to start physio after surgery (and before it)

The right time to start physio after surgery depends on the operation and your surgeon's protocol. Some people start within days, others after their first check with the surgeon. Book your first appointment as soon as you know the date your surgeon wants rehab to begin, rather than waiting for the pain to settle on its own.

If your surgery is still weeks away, consider starting before it. Rehab before surgery, often called prehab, helps you:

• Go into the operation with less swelling and better movement in the joint

• Build strength in the muscles around it, which you will lean on afterwards

• Learn the first exercises you will do after surgery while you are still comfortable

• Practise with crutches or a sling, and plan your home and work setup

• Get a baseline strength measurement to compare against later

What your first post-op appointment involves

Your first appointment is a one-on-one assessment with a registered physiotherapist, either 45 or 60 minutes. Bring your surgeon's instructions and any reports you have, including restrictions on weight bearing, range of motion, or wearing a brace or sling.

Your physiotherapist reviews your surgery and history, then checks swelling, movement and strength. Where it is appropriate for your stage, they run objective testing. Then they build a staged plan around your surgeon's protocol, so you know what this week looks like and what you are working towards.

How post-operative rehabilitation progresses

Every operation has its own protocol, but most post-operative rehabilitation moves through the same broad stages:

1. Protect and settle. Managing swelling and pain, moving gently within your surgeon's limits, and switching the muscles around the joint back on.

2. Restore movement. Getting range of motion back as the protocol allows, and returning to normal walking or normal use of the arm.

3. Build strength. Progressive loading on the gym floor. When your protocol limits what you can lift, Blood Flow Restriction training lets you build strength with lighter loads.

4. Return to work, the gym or sport. Harder, faster and more specific work, with testing that compares your operated side with the other side.

Each stage has criteria for moving on, not just a date on the calendar. Force plates record how much force each leg produces and how quickly, and dynamometers measure single muscle groups, so your physiotherapist can show you how the operated side compares instead of estimating it. For a detailed knee example, our ACL rehab timeline walks through each stage after ACL surgery.

The honest part: the hard bit is rarely the first week

Most people are careful in the first weeks after surgery. Where post-op rehab tends to go wrong is later. The pain has eased, the surgeon has cleared you to do more, the exercise sheet from the hospital has run out, and the operated side can still be noticeably weaker than the other one. That is the point where people stop coming in, and it is often the point where structured loading matters most.

Two more things we would rather say plainly. Your surgeon's protocol comes first, ahead of anything a physiotherapist, including us, might want to try. And not every operation needs weeks of physio. After some smaller procedures, a couple of visits and a clear home program are enough, and your physiotherapist should tell you so.

Questions to ask before you choose a post-op physio

Rehab after surgery is a commitment of weeks or months, so it is worth asking a few questions before you book:

• Will I see a registered physiotherapist one-on-one for the whole session?

• How will you measure my progress, and compare my operated side with the other side?

• Will you follow my surgeon's protocol and work with my surgical team?

• Is there space and equipment to load properly once I am ready?

• Do you direct bill my extended health plan?

• My injury came from a crash or a work accident. How does billing work?

Post-operative rehabilitation in Vancouver at Forza

Forza treats people before and after orthopaedic surgery, including knee, shoulder, hip, ankle and Achilles procedures. We are inside Evolve Strength at 658 Homer St, Suite 410, in downtown Vancouver. Every session is one-on-one with a registered physiotherapist for the full time, and rehab moves onto the full gym floor as your protocol allows. You can read how the program runs on our page for post-operative rehabilitation in Vancouver, and people recovering from a shoulder operation can see our shoulder rehab program.

You do not need a doctor's referral to book physiotherapy in BC, though some extended health plans ask for one before they reimburse. An initial assessment is $145 for 45 minutes or $190 for 60 minutes. Forza direct bills most major extended health plans. We do not bill ICBC or WorkSafeBC directly, but you can still book as a private patient. ICBC's injury claims page and WorkSafeBC's claims page explain how those claims work.

Post-op physio FAQ

How soon after surgery should I start physio?

Start when your surgeon's protocol says to. That can be within days for some operations and a few weeks for others. Book your first appointment as soon as you know the date, and bring your surgeon's instructions so your plan matches them.

Do I need a referral for physio after surgery in BC?

No. You can book physiotherapy in BC without a doctor's referral, including after surgery. Some extended health plans require one for reimbursement, so check your policy before your first visit.

What should I bring to my first post-op appointment?

Bring your surgeon's instructions, any operation or scan reports, and a list of your restrictions, such as weight bearing limits or how long to wear a brace. Wear clothing that lets your physiotherapist see and move the operated area.

What is Blood Flow Restriction training?

Blood Flow Restriction training is a technique that builds strength using lighter loads during rehab. It helps you make strength gains when your surgeon's protocol does not yet allow heavy lifting, and your physiotherapist decides whether it suits your stage.

Will extended health cover physio after surgery?

Most extended health plans cover physiotherapy, and Forza direct bills the major ones. Limits vary between plans, so check how many visits or dollars yours allows. Forza does not bill ICBC or WorkSafeBC directly, but you can still book privately.

Next step

If your surgery is booked, or you have had it and are not sure your rehab is on track, book an assessment and bring your surgeon's instructions. Book online at forzaphysiotherapy.janeapp.com or call the clinic on 604-359-2919.