Why should I do physical therapy before I have joint surgery?

Two to three weeks of physical therapy prior to joint replacement surgery can make a very big difference in your postoperative recovery. For one, it's a better opportunity for you to learn exercises and to take in the information that will prepare you for surgery. Your doctor can also clean up any small, ancillary problems that may have arisen due to the dysfunction, so that postoperatively, it's easier to focus specifically on the joint.

Physical therapy is usually started within the first few days following dismissal from the hospital. Your healthcare team will take care of you postoperatively, allowing you to start rehabilitation very early.