Post-surgery rehab timeline: week-by-week recovery after knee or hip surgery
By Dr. Komal, MPT (Neuro) • 8 min read • Updated 19 August 2026
Surgery fixes the structure. Rehabilitation decides how well you actually use it. The timeline below is the pattern we see most often after knee replacement, hip surgery and ligament repair — your surgeon's protocol always takes priority, but this gives families a realistic map of the next three months.
On this page
Weeks 1–2: protect, move, and don't let stiffness set in
Goals are modest and non-negotiable: control swelling, get safe transfers in and out of bed, walk short distances with your aid, and hold onto the range of motion you left theatre with.
- Gentle range-of-motion work several times a day, little and often.
- Ankle pumps and breathing exercises for circulation.
- Safe transfers: bed, chair, toilet, and the first few steps.
- Wound and swelling monitoring at every session.
Weeks 3–6: range of motion and early strength
This is the window where outcomes are won or lost. Range of motion targets are met now or become a long fight later, and the quadriceps or gluteal muscles start real loading.
- Progressive bending and straightening to your surgeon's target.
- Closed-chain strength: sit-to-stand, step-ups, controlled mini-squats.
- Weaning off the walker or crutches under supervision.
- Balance work so the operated side is trusted again.
Two to three supervised sessions a week is typical here. Costs and what a session includes are on the home visit charges page.
Weeks 7–12: strength, endurance and normal life
- Full-range strengthening with resistance and increasing load.
- Stair confidence, longer walks, carrying and household tasks.
- Gait retraining to remove the limp people keep out of habit.
- Return-to-activity planning: driving, temple visits, travel, gentle sport.
Signs recovery is going off track
- Range of motion has not moved in two weeks.
- Swelling that increases through the day, every day.
- Still relying on a walker well past the expected point.
- New calf pain, redness or fever — contact your surgeon urgently.
- Fear of weight-bearing that is holding back an otherwise healthy joint.
A supervised plan catches these early. Dr. Komal's background in neuro and post-surgical rehabilitation is outlined on the Dr. Komal page.
Why post-surgery rehab works well at home
In the first six weeks a car ride to a clinic is often the most painful part of the day. Home sessions remove that entirely, and the therapist can adapt your bed height, bathroom setup and stair technique to the space you actually live in.
Families in the township can read exactly how visits are scheduled on our guide to physiotherapy in Hiranandani Estate, Thane, or see the wider service on the home visit physiotherapy page.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should physiotherapy start after surgery?
Usually within the first few days of discharge, once your surgeon clears you. Early gentle movement protects range of motion and circulation; waiting weeks makes the stiffness much harder to reverse.
How many physiotherapy sessions are needed after knee replacement?
Most people need two to three supervised sessions a week for the first four to six weeks, tapering as strength returns, with daily home exercises in between. Your exact plan is confirmed after the first assessment.
Is home physiotherapy as effective as a clinic after surgery?
For the early phase it is often better — you avoid a painful commute, you practise on your own stairs, bed height and bathroom, and the session is one-to-one for the full 45–60 minutes.
What does post-surgery home physiotherapy cost in Thane?
At Your Home Physio charges ₹800 per 45–60 minute home session in Hiranandani Estate and Thane West, with the full plan quoted before the first visit.
Want this assessed properly, at home?
Dr. Komal visits homes across Hiranandani Estate and Thane West — ₹800 per 45–60 minute session, all equipment brought to you.