If you’re booked in for shoulder surgery, your surgeon will have also recommended that you attend post-op shoulder rehab. This is because rehab physio helps you safely regain normal movement in your shoulder after the surgery, rebuild its strength, and return to your normal life as quickly as possible.
At our Scarborough clinic, Ben Langford, our Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner, designs a personalised post-op recovery plan based on evidence-based principles that support your progress at every step of your recovery.
Understanding the Recovery Process
Surgery is often the first step toward improving the functionality of your shoulder, but rehabilitation is where the real progress happens. That’s because post-op shoulder rehab helps restore strength, flexibility, and control in your shoulder while protecting the tissues as they heal. Without physio, your recovery can be much slower, and potentially result in long-term stiffness or weakness in the joint.
As a highly experienced physio, Ben creates a rehabilitation program that’s specific to your surgical procedure and stage of healing. Whether you’ve had a rotator cuff repair, shoulder stabilisation, or joint replacement, Ben manages each phase of your recovery to ensure a steady improvement while reducing the risk of re-injury.
The Role of Physiotherapy in Post-Op Shoulder Rehab
Physiotherapy is a key part of your recovery after surgery, as it helps restore movement and strength in your shoulder. At our Redcliffe clinic, Ben creates a post-op shoulder rehab treatment plan that’s practical, goal-driven and designed to reduce your pain and improve the mobility and function in your shoulder.
Each stage of your rehabilitation follows a structured approach, ensuring your exercises and recovery steps are backed by clear clinical reasoning. With Ben’s guidance, you’ll regain strength in your shoulder and return to your usual activities feeling stronger, more comfortable, and ready to get on with your life.
What to Expect During Your Sessions
Using evidence-based principles that support safe and steady progress, your post-op shoulder rehab is structured into three key stages: early post-op exercises, intermediate rehab, and advanced rehab. Each phase builds on the last, ensuring your shoulder recovers at the right pace.
You’ll notice gradual improvements in movement, strength, and comfort as your program progresses, helping you return to your everyday activities with greater ease and control.
- Early Post-Op Exercises (0 to 6 weeks)
This stage focuses on protecting the healing tissues in your shoulder, reducing pain and inflammation, and performing gentle exercises to prevent stiffness. Rest, however, is crucial, and you’ll most probably wear a sling for at least four weeks to minimise movement in your shoulder. - Intermediate Rehab (6 to 12 weeks)
As your recovery progresses, active range of movement (AROM) exercises are used to restore mobility in your shoulder, improve muscle strength, and help you regain confidence and control in your movements. - Advanced Rehab (12 weeks to 18 months)
The final phase of your post-op shoulder rehab focuses on building strength, balance, and function. This stage fine-tunes your exercises so they truly reflect your needs; it’s these details that allow you to return to work and your everyday activities feeling confident in the strength, resilience and functionality of your shoulder.
As your recovery progresses, Ben reviews each of these three stages, making adjustments as needed to ensure your treatment plan remains aligned with your recovery timeline and lifestyle.
The Long-Term Benefits of Structured Rehab
A strong, stable shoulder allows you to move comfortably and live a normal, active life with ease. This is why it’s so important that you complete your post op shoulder rehab program, and not skip out early. Your plan is designed to reduce the risk of future injury to your shoulder, improve your posture, and provide the strength and flexibility that’s needed for an active life.
Regain Strength and Freedom After Shoulder Surgery
With Ben Langford’s expertise and a structured post-op shoulder rehab program at our Redcliffe clinic, you can look forward to a safe and speedy recovery. Book your appointment today and start rebuilding your strength, movement, and independence.