Pre and post-op rehab in Manchester
Get stronger before your operation, then recover with a clear plan that follows your surgeon's advice, in clinic or at home.
Physio before and after surgery in Manchester
Reviewed by Nick Chatziviltsos, PgDip, HCPC-registered physiotherapist (PH114351), November 2026
At a glance
Who it's for: anyone preparing for, or recovering from, joint, ligament, spine or tendon surgery.
Surgeries we cover: knee and hip replacement, ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, shoulder surgery, spinal surgery, ankle and Achilles surgery.
Where: in clinic at F45 NQ, at home in the early weeks, or online.
When to start: ideally 6 to 8 weeks before surgery, or within days of leaving hospital.
Your surgeon: we follow their protocol and precautions exactly.
Get urgent help: chest pain or difficulty breathing: call 999. A hot, oozing wound or throbbing calf pain: get an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111.
Surgery fixes the structure. Rehab rebuilds the strength, movement and confidence you need to use it. How well you recover depends a lot on the weeks before and the months after your operation.
NICE's joint replacement guideline (NG157) supports this. Its draft recommendations advise giving people rehab advice before hip or knee surgery, and starting rehab within 24 hours afterwards.
We work with you from the day you get a surgery date to the day you're back at work, the gym or your sport. We visit you at home in the early weeks, then rebuild your strength on the F45 NQ gym floor.
🛠️ How we help before and after surgery
Step 1. Prepare and plan
We measure where you are now: strength, movement, walking and balance, using tests we repeat later. We read your surgeon's protocol and set goals around what you want back. We show you on a 3D anatomy model what the operation does.
Step 2. Protect and move
In the early weeks, we keep you safe within your precautions. We help you walk, manage pain and swelling, and start gentle exercises from your custom rehab plan. Hands-on treatment includes joint mobilisation and soft tissue work, where your surgeon allows it.
Step 3. Strengthen and return
Once healing allows, we build your strength on the F45 NQ gym floor, with bikes, sleds, step boxes and free weights. We test you before each big step, such as running, lifting or sport.
Got a date for surgery, or just home from hospital? Your first 60-minute session sets your plan, in clinic or at home. Book your assessment →
👥 Who our pre and post-op rehab is for
People on a waiting list who want to go into surgery stronger, NHS or private.
People just home from hospital who need help with walking, stairs and early exercises.
People a few months on whose progress has stalled, or who never got enough NHS physio.
Active people and athletes who want to get back to running, the gym or sport, not just daily life.
People who've been told surgery may not be needed and want to try rehab first, such as for some meniscus tears.
🏋️ Prehab: getting ready for your operation
Prehab means getting your body and your home ready before the operation. It works best if you start 6 to 8 weeks before your surgery date. Even 2 or 3 sessions can help.
Strength. We build the muscles around the joint, so they're not starting from zero after surgery.
Movement. We keep the joint moving as well as it can, because stiffness before surgery often means stiffness after.
Practise the basics. You learn your first exercises, how to use crutches, and how to do stairs, before you're sore.
Set up your home. We advise on chair and toilet height, rugs, stairs and what to have within reach.
Know the plan. We go through your surgeon's protocol, so the first weeks hold no surprises.
🧪 What happens at your first appointment
Your first session lasts 60 minutes, in clinic or at home, so there's time to assess properly and start treatment the same day.
Your story. Your operation and date, your surgeon's protocol, how you're managing and what you want back.
Safety screen. We check your wound, calf and general health for warning signs of infection or a clot.
Measurements. Joint movement in degrees, strength, and tests such as the timed up-and-go and 30-second sit-to-stand.
Walking and daily tasks. How you manage walking aids, stairs and getting up from a chair.
Treatment. Hands-on work where it's safe, and your first exercises, the start of a rehab plan built for you.
Your plan. What to do this week, when we'll see you next, and how many sessions we expect.
💷 Pre and post-op rehab prices
First appointment. 60-minute assessment and treatment: £95.
Follow-up, 30 minutes. £55.
Follow-up, 60 minutes. £95.
Free consultation, 15 minutes. Free.
Home visits are priced by quote, depending on distance.
We work with Bupa, WPA, Vitality and Aviva. Many policies cover physio after surgery, so check your cover and get an authorisation code before you book.
⏱️ What recovery usually looks like
The first 6 weeks are about protecting the repair, walking safely and getting the joint moving. From about 6 weeks, the focus moves to strength. From about 3 months, most people work on getting back to work, sport and hobbies.
Typical recovery timelines
Knee replacement: early weeks: home in 1 to 4 days, crutches, then a stick, walking without aids from about 6 weeks; driving: at least 6 weeks, or 3 weeks after a partial; back to work: usually 6 to 12 weeks; sport and full recovery: several months, sometimes up to a year.
ACL reconstruction: early weeks: crutches for about 2 weeks, walking without them after 2 to 3 weeks; driving: often 3 to 4 weeks; back to work: 2 to 3 weeks for office work, up to 3 months for manual work; sport and full recovery: sport possibly from 6 months, pivoting sport usually 9 to 12 months.
Hip replacement: early weeks: home in 1 to 3 days, crutches or a frame at first; driving: at least 6 weeks; back to work: about 6 weeks; sport and full recovery: several months.
Shoulder replacement: early weeks: sling for about 3 to 6 weeks, gentle exercises from day 1; driving: about 6 to 8 weeks; back to work: light work from 6 weeks, heavy lifting from 3 months; sport and full recovery: golf from about 3 months, gains can continue for up to 18 months.
Spine (lumbar decompression): early weeks: home in 2 to 5 days, up and walking soon after surgery; driving: when your surgeon agrees; back to work: about 4 to 6 weeks; sport and full recovery: most normal activities by about 12 weeks.
Ankle (Achilles repair): early weeks: cast for 2 weeks, then a boot until about week 10; driving: about 1 week after leaving the boot, once you can do an emergency stop; back to work: depends on your job and which leg; sport and full recovery: no running for 4 to 5 months, no explosive sport for at least 6 months.
These are guides from NHS pages and NHS trust leaflets. Your surgeon's protocol always comes first.
How we work with your surgeon's protocol
Most surgeons give you a written rehab protocol. It sets out precautions, weight-bearing limits and when each stage can start. We follow it exactly.
Bring it to your first appointment, or send us a photo beforehand. If you haven't been given one, we'll help you get it from your surgical team. If something doesn't look right, such as a stiff knee or a wound concern, we contact your surgeon or GP.
Home visits in the early weeks
In the first weeks, getting into town on crutches or in a sling can be hard. We can come to you instead. We practise stairs, chairs, the bath and the car in your own home.
Home visits are priced by quote, depending on distance. Once you're ready for the gym floor, we switch you to the clinic. Online physiotherapy works well for check-ins between visits.
✅ Surgery we help you prepare for and recover from
Pick your operation to read more. Having a different operation? Call us. If it's within our scope, we'll build a plan around it.
Knee replacement recovery: prehab and rehab after a total or partial knee replacement
Hip replacement recovery: prehab and rehab after a total or partial hip replacement
ACL injury: prehab and a tested 9 to 12 month rehab plan after reconstruction
Meniscus tear: rehab with or without keyhole surgery for a torn knee cartilage
Shoulder surgery rehab: rehab after rotator cuff repair, stabilisation or shoulder replacement
Spinal surgery rehab: rehab after a discectomy, decompression or fusion
Ankle and Achilles surgery rehab: rehab after an Achilles repair, ankle fracture fixation or ligament surgery
❓ Pre and post-op rehab FAQs
🚨 When to get help fast after surgery
Most aches and stiffness after surgery are part of normal recovery. A few warning signs need a doctor quickly.
Book a physio: stiffness or weakness that has stalled, even months after surgery; we contact your surgeon if something needs checking.
Call your GP urgently or 111: a hot, oozing wound or throbbing calf pain (get an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111).
Call 999 or go to A&E: chest pain or difficulty breathing (call 999).
Not sure when to start, or whether you need us yet? Book a free 15-minute call and we'll tell you honestly. Book a free call →
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Ideally 6 to 8 weeks before your operation. Even 2 or 3 sessions can help you go in stronger and better prepared.
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Usually within days of leaving hospital. We follow your surgeon's protocol on what's safe and when.
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Yes. Home visits are often the best option in the first few weeks. They're priced by quote, depending on distance.
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Yes, exactly. Bring it to your first appointment. If you don't have one, we'll help you get it.
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Yes. Many people add private sessions to speed things up. We'll make sure the plans don't clash.
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Often, yes. Stiffness and weakness can improve long after surgery. We'll assess you and contact your surgeon if something needs checking.
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It depends on the operation. A joint replacement often needs 6 to 12 sessions over 3 months. An ACL reconstruction can need 15 to 25 over 9 to 12 months.
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Often, yes. We work with Bupa, WPA, Vitality and Aviva. Check your cover with your insurer before you book.
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Yes. Book a free 15-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether physio is the right next step.
📍 Book pre and post-op rehab in Manchester city centre
Athos Physio is inside F45 NQ, 77 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2BU, a two-minute walk from Piccadilly station and Piccadilly Gardens. We're open 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Your first appointment is a 60-minute assessment and treatment (£95). Follow-ups are £55 for 30 minutes, £95 for 60 minutes or £135 for 90 minutes. We work with Bupa, WPA, Vitality and Aviva. Can't get into town? We also offer home physio visits and online physiotherapy.
Call or WhatsApp 07475 433300, or book online.
Other services: Physiotherapy and active rehab · Sports massage · Pregnancy and postnatal physio · Home visits · Online physio
Written by Nick Chatziviltsos, physiotherapist and founder of Athos Physio, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, HCPC registered. Last reviewed: November 2026.
Insurance providers we are affiliated with
Athos Physio is a full-service physiotherapy clinic
We offer injury rehabilitation, post-surgery functional strengthening, deep tissue massage and pain relief, and strength training expertise. We support you in becoming pain-free so that you can achieve a limitless life experience. If you want to speak with us before booking a session you reach out via WhatsApp, call us or email us.
We are based in Manchester city centre a couple of minutes walk from Piccadilly train station and Piccadilly Gardens Square