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Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

Barrington, IL · One-on-One · Evidence-Based

Structured post-operative rehabilitation with Dr. Julie Roy, DPT. Joint replacement, rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, and spinal surgery recovery for active adults who want to get back to the activities they care about.

Surgical Recovery Starts with the Right Rehabilitation

Surgery addresses the structural problem. Rehabilitation restores the function. Without a well-designed post-surgical physical therapy program, patients often recover from the procedure itself but never fully return to the strength, mobility, and confidence they had before the injury.

At Achieve Physical Therapy in Barrington, IL, Dr. Julie Roy works directly with your surgeon's protocol and advances your rehabilitation based on tissue healing timelines, functional milestones, and your individual goals. Every session is a full one-on-one hour. There are no aides, no group exercises, and no rotating staff.

If you have surgery scheduled and want to plan your recovery in advance, a free 20-minute injury consultation is available to discuss your post-operative plan before the procedure. No referral is needed.

Surgeries Dr. Roy Rehabilitates

  • Total knee replacement (TKA)Dr. Roy has authored a Clinical Pilates Protocol for Total Knee Arthroplasty, integrating clinical Pilates principles into post-TKA rehabilitation. Treatment focuses on restoring full knee range of motion, rebuilding quadriceps strength, normalizing gait mechanics, and returning to activities like walking, golf, and recreational sports.
  • Total hip replacement (THA)Post-operative hip replacement rehab follows surgeon-specific precautions (anterior vs. posterior approach) while progressively restoring hip mobility, gluteal strength, and functional independence. The goal is a return to confident, pain-free movement for daily life and recreation.
  • Rotator cuff repairPhased rehabilitation that respects tendon healing timelines: protected passive motion in the early weeks, active range of motion beginning around 6 weeks, progressive strengthening starting at 8 to 12 weeks, and return to full activity by 4 to 6 months depending on the size of the repair.
  • ACL reconstructionMilestone-based rehab following ACL surgery: early range of motion and weight-bearing progression, quadriceps reactivation, closed-chain strengthening, running clearance around 4 to 5 months, agility training, and return-to-sport testing at 9 to 12 months.
  • Labral repair (shoulder and hip)Structured recovery following arthroscopic labral repair with careful progression through protected ranges, gradual strengthening, and sport-specific retraining tailored to the joint involved.
  • Spinal surgery (laminectomy, discectomy, fusion)Post-operative spinal rehabilitation focuses on core stabilization, movement retraining, and progressive return to functional activities. Dr. Roy coordinates with your surgeon's specific weight-bearing and activity restrictions at each phase.
  • Ankle and foot surgeryRecovery after procedures including Achilles tendon repair, ankle ligament reconstruction, and bunionectomy. Treatment progresses through protected weight-bearing, range of motion restoration, balance and proprioception training, and return to walking and recreational activity.

What Makes Post-Surgical PT at Achieve Different

Most post-surgical rehabilitation follows a protocol. The difference is in how that protocol is executed and who is executing it.

One clinician, every visit Dr. Roy personally treats you at every session. She sees the progression of your recovery from the first post-operative visit through discharge. There is no handoff to a physical therapy aide or assistant, no rotation between providers, and no double-booking. This continuity means subtle changes in your recovery are caught early and the plan adapts in real time.
Surgeon coordination Dr. Roy communicates directly with your orthopedic surgeon throughout your recovery. Post-operative precautions, weight-bearing status, and progression criteria are followed precisely. If questions arise about advancing your program, she contacts your surgeon directly rather than guessing.
Clinical Pilates integration For joint replacement patients, Dr. Roy integrates clinical Pilates principles into rehabilitation. This approach provides controlled, low-impact strengthening that respects tissue healing while rebuilding stability, balance, and movement confidence. The Pilates-integrated approach is particularly effective for active adults who want to return to recreational activities after surgery.
About pre-surgical PT (prehabilitation): If you have time before your surgery, pre-surgical physical therapy can improve your post-operative outcomes. Strengthening the muscles around the surgical site before the procedure gives you a better starting point for recovery. Dr. Roy offers prehabilitation programs for patients with upcoming joint replacement, rotator cuff repair, or ACL reconstruction.

Treatment Approach

Post-surgical sessions combine hands-on care with progressive therapeutic exercise, guided by your surgeon's protocol and adjusted based on how your tissues are healing.

Manual therapy and joint mobilization. Gentle mobilization techniques restore range of motion that is lost after surgery due to swelling, scar tissue, and immobilization. Graded mobilization progresses as healing allows, targeting joint stiffness without stressing the surgical repair.

Scar tissue management with IASTM. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization breaks down post-surgical adhesions and scar tissue that restrict motion and cause discomfort. Particularly effective around incision sites and within the joint capsule after arthroscopic or open procedures.

Dry needling for compensatory muscle tension. After surgery, surrounding muscles often develop trigger points from guarding and altered movement patterns. Dry needling releases these points, reducing compensatory pain and improving muscle activation around the surgical site.

Progressive therapeutic exercise. The core of every post-surgical program. Exercises progress through phases: early activation and range of motion, closed-chain strengthening, balance and proprioception, functional training, and sport- or activity-specific demands. Every exercise is selected for your current healing phase and adjusted as you progress.

All post-surgical rehabilitation is delivered within the framework of orthopedic physical therapy, where clinical reasoning drives every progression decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Timing depends on the procedure. Many orthopedic surgeries benefit from starting physical therapy within the first one to two weeks. Your surgeon will specify when to begin, and Dr. Roy can see you as soon as you are cleared. Starting early typically leads to better range of motion and faster functional recovery.

Most post-surgical patients are seen two to three times per week in the early phases, tapering to once or twice per week as they become more independent. The frequency depends on the surgery, your progress, and your home exercise compliance. Because Achieve is private-pay, visit frequency is based on clinical need rather than insurance authorization limits.

Yes, and it is highly recommended. Research shows that patients who strengthen the muscles around the surgical site before their procedure recover faster and have better outcomes afterward. Pre-surgical PT (prehabilitation) is available for patients with upcoming joint replacement, rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, or spinal surgery.

Most patients achieve functional independence within 6 to 8 weeks after total knee replacement. Full recovery, including return to recreational activities, typically takes 3 to 6 months. Factors including pre-operative strength, surgical approach, and consistency with home exercises all influence the timeline.

Yes. Dr. Roy coordinates directly with your orthopedic surgeon throughout your recovery. She follows surgeon-specific protocols and contacts your surgeon directly if any questions arise about advancing your program or modifying restrictions.

Achieve is a private-pay practice. Sessions are not limited by insurance visit caps or time restrictions, which is particularly important for post-surgical rehabilitation where visit frequency and duration directly affect outcomes. HSA and FSA are accepted, and a superbill is provided for out-of-network reimbursement.

If you have an upcoming surgery or are recovering from a recent procedure, a free 20-minute consultation with Dr. Julie Roy can help you plan your rehabilitation. No referral needed.

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Serving Barrington, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Deer Park, Inverness, and the NW suburbs.