Post-surgery rehabilitation in Richmond
Post-surgery rehabilitation helps you restore movement, strength and confidence after an operation, working alongside your surgeon’s guidance. At Vitality Integrative Health in Richmond, physiotherapy is available at both clinics, and our Minoru clinic adds aquatic therapy in the Minoru Centre pool and kinesiology with fitness centre access.
Rehab can help after surgeries such as
- Knee or hip replacement
- Knee ligament or meniscus surgery
- Shoulder surgery
- Back surgery
- Ankle and foot surgery
- Stiffness near a healed surgical scar
- Rebuilding fitness once you are cleared for activity
How rehab after surgery works
Start with your surgeon's plan
Bring any protocol, restrictions or notes from your surgeon. Your physiotherapist builds the plan around them and checks your healing, swelling, movement and strength.
Restore movement
Early care may include gentle exercise, manual therapy and, at Minoru, low-impact work in the pool, well suited to early post-operative recovery.
Rebuild strength
Once your surgeon and care team clear you, progressive exercise with a physiotherapist or kinesiologist rebuilds strength and returns you to full activity.
Techniques your practitioner may use
Each one has its own page explaining what it involves and who else at Vitality offers it.
Who you will see
Experienced with post-operative recovery, sport injuries and chronic pain.
Sees patients at Minoru
Has provided hydrotherapy in a clinical setting, including for people recovering from joint replacement.
Sees patients at Seafair and Minoru
Went through shoulder surgery and rehabilitation himself after a sports injury.
Sees patients at Seafair and Minoru
Aquatic therapy at Minoru
Aquatic therapy in the Minoru Centre pool is low-impact rehab, well suited to early post-operative recovery, arthritis, or anyone who finds land-based exercise painful. Every kinesiology visit at Minoru includes access to the fitness centre and pool.
When should I start physiotherapy after surgery?
Follow your surgeon's guidance on timing. Many people start soon after surgery, and you can book an assessment as soon as you have your surgeon's plan or restrictions.
What should I bring to my first post-surgery visit?
Bring any protocol, restrictions or notes from your surgeon, any imaging, your insurance details, and comfortable clothing that lets us see and move the area.
Can I do rehab in a pool after surgery?
Yes, at our Minoru clinic. Aquatic therapy in the Minoru Centre pool is low impact and well suited to early post-operative recovery once your incision has healed and your surgeon agrees.
Do you work with my surgeon's protocol?
Yes. Your physiotherapist follows your surgeon's protocol and restrictions and adjusts the plan as you heal.
Is physiotherapy after surgery covered?
Physiotherapy is covered by many extended health plans, and we direct bill most of them. If your surgery relates to an ICBC or WorkSafeBC claim, we can bill those directly too.
Direct billing, so you pay less at the desk.
We bill ICBC, WorkSafeBC, MSP and most extended health plans directly, including Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life and Green Shield. Bring your policy details to your first visit and we handle the rest. How direct billing works