If you have had any form of surgery, your physio will have been sent or be aware of the protocol you will need to follow based on your surgery type. This is important as there might be slight differences in approach depending on the surgeon and different post-op instructions.

If you are due to have surgery, you will likely have been given some exercises to complete. This can be extremely helpful and there are many benefits to exercising including strengthening your joints, managing your pain, improving your mood, improving your sleep, ensuring you are fit for surgery and improving recovery after surgery, manage your weight and can help with other health problems. Versus arthritis go into more detail with this following this link

There are sections on exercises before and after hip, knee, and shoulder surgery as well as generic cardio exercise. They have also created a useful booklet which has lots of other useful information in it to support you in getting active before surgery and improving activity post.

If you have had surgery and are waiting to see a physiotherapist continue to do the exercises you have been shown whilst you were in hospital or by your consultant.

There are a few key things to keep an eye out for in the early days after you have had surgery which will have been explained to you in hospital.

• Signs of injection – redness, fever, foul odour, feeling unwell
• Uncontrollable pain
• Signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Wound issues – Redness, fluid leaking around op site
• Shortness of breath
• Dull chest pain or pain when breathing

If you have any of these signs please attempt to ring your GP, ring 111 or attend A&E and advise you have had recent surgery.