Patient education
Post-surgery recovery guides
Physical therapists with 30+ years of experience share recovery basics and the most commonly recommended items before and after common orthopedic procedures. Build a kit matched to your surgery when you are ready.
Featured guides
Cervical Spine
ACDF (Cervical Fusion) Recovery Guide
ACDF removes a cervical disc from the front of the neck and fuses the level. Early recovery may include a collar, soft diet while swallowing settles, and strict limits on heavy lifting.
Read guide →Foot/Ankle
Achilles Tendon Repair Recovery Guide
Achilles tendon repair needs protected plantarflexion (toe down position). This usually includes a boot with heel wedges that are lowered over weeks. This is not a standard “ankle fracture boot” timeline.
Read guide →Knee
ACL Reconstruction Recovery Guide
ACL reconstruction recovery focuses on protecting the graft, managing swelling, and restoring motion in phases. Having crutches, ice, and home safety items ready avoids last-minute scrambling.
Read guide →Foot/Ankle
Ankle Fracture ORIF Recovery Guide
Ankle ORIF fixes broken malleoli with plates and screws. Many patients are non-weight-bearing in a splint, cast, or boot for weeks—mobility equipment is the core of home setup.
Read guide →Knee
Arthroscopic Meniscectomy Recovery Guide
Meniscectomy (removing torn meniscus tissue) usually allows earlier walking than meniscus repair, but swelling and quad inhibition still deserve a prepared home.
Read guide →Wrist
Carpal Tunnel Release Recovery Guide
Carpal tunnel release frees the median nerve at the wrist. You usually use the hand lightly soon for ADLs, but forceful grip and repetitive strain wait while the palm incision heals.
Read guide →Hip
Hip Replacement Recovery Guide
After hip replacement, hip precautions and temporary mobility limits make home setup critical. The right DME helps you move safely and protect the new joint during early recovery.
Read guide →Knee
Knee Replacement Recovery Guide
A total knee replacement changes how you move for weeks. Having the right equipment at home before surgery reduces falls, supports safe mobility, and makes the first phase of recovery more manageable.
Read guide →Lumbar Spine
Lumbar Fusion (PLIF/TLIF) Recovery Guide
PLIF/TLIF fuses lumbar vertebrae with hardware and bone graft. Recovery is longer than microdiscectomy. Bone needs months to consolidate while you avoid bending, lifting, and twisting.
Read guide →Lumbar Spine
Lumbar Laminectomy / Decompression Recovery Guide
Lumbar laminectomy (decompression) removes bone and ligament that squeeze spinal nerves — often for stenosis. Early recovery centers on frequent walking, careful transfers, and limits on bending, lifting, and twisting while tissues calm. Most people do not need a brace. Exercise examples below are common “what to expect” themes — always check with your surgeon and physical therapist before starting anything new.
Read guide →Knee
Meniscus Repair Recovery Guide
Meniscus repair stitches tissue so it can heal, so weight-bearing, flexion, and pivoting are often restricted for weeks. Home setup should protect those limits.
Read guide →Shoulder
Reverse Shoulder Replacement Recovery Guide
Reverse shoulder replacement flips ball-and-socket orientation so the deltoid can power the arm when the rotator cuff is not functional. Early recovery protects the deltoid and often uses a sling or abduction pillow.
Read guide →Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Repair Recovery Guide
Rotator cuff repair usually requires a period in a sling with limited active shoulder motion. Home equipment supports comfort, sleep, and safe independence while the tendon heals.
Read guide →Browse by body region
All guides
- ACDF (Cervical Fusion) Recovery GuideRead →
- Achilles Tendon Repair Recovery GuideRead →
- ACL Reconstruction Recovery GuideRead →
- Ankle Fracture ORIF Recovery GuideRead →
- Ankle Fusion (Arthrodesis) Recovery GuideRead →
- Arthroscopic Meniscectomy Recovery GuideRead →
- Biceps Tenodesis / Tenotomy Recovery GuideRead →
- Bunionectomy Recovery GuideRead →
- Carpal Tunnel Release Recovery GuideRead →
- Hip Replacement Recovery GuideRead →
- Knee Replacement Recovery GuideRead →
- Lumbar Fusion (PLIF/TLIF) Recovery GuideRead →
- Lumbar Laminectomy / Decompression Recovery GuideRead →
- Meniscus Repair Recovery GuideRead →
- Reverse Shoulder Replacement Recovery GuideRead →
- Rotator Cuff Repair Recovery GuideRead →
- Shoulder Labral Repair Recovery GuideRead →
Product how-to guides
Step-by-step instructions for equipment in your recovery kit: ice machines, walkers, slings, and more.
Browse product guides →Patient education only, not medical advice. Always follow your surgeon and physical therapist instructions.