Dr. Emily Warren, DPT provides individualized post-surgical rehabilitation at Mindful Movement Physical Therapies in Holladay and Salt Lake City — including recovery after hip replacement, knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, spinal surgery, and more. One-on-one care, no rushed visit slots, no PT aide handoffs.

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Quick Answer

Your surgeon did their part. Now PT is what actually gets you back to your life. The quality of your post-surgical rehabilitation — how often, how soon, how progressively, and how individually it’s delivered — has a direct impact on your functional outcome. At Mindful Movement Physical Therapies, Dr. Emily Warren provides post-surgical rehab that follows your surgeon’s protocol while delivering the individualized, hands-on, progression-driven care that makes the difference between a good recovery and a great one.

Utah has excellent orthopedic surgeons and surgical facilities — University of Utah Orthopedics, Intermountain Health, Utah Orthopedic Specialists, and others perform thousands of procedures each year across the Wasatch Front. What follows surgery matters just as much as the procedure itself. A quality PT experience means fewer complications, faster return to function, and better long-term outcomes than a high-volume clinic where you spend most of your session waiting.

Post-Surgical Conditions We Treat

Total Hip Replacement Rehabilitation

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful orthopedic procedures performed — but the surgery itself is only the beginning. Post-surgical PT after hip replacement involves:

Early mobility and precaution management: Whether your surgeon used a posterior, anterior, or lateral approach determines your initial precautions (hip flexion limits, rotation restrictions). Dr. Warren knows these precautions, follows them precisely, and teaches you to move safely within them from day one.
Gait retraining: Returning to normal gait mechanics after hip replacement requires progressive weaning from assistive devices and deliberate retraining of gait pattern. Limping patterns compensated over years of arthritis don’t resolve on their own — they require active rehabilitation.
Hip abductor and gluteal strengthening: The abductors and glutes — particularly gluteus medius and maximus — are the primary functional muscles of the hip. Restoring their strength is essential for stability, gait, and return to activities like hiking, cycling, and golf.
Functional progression: Stair climbing, floor recovery, car transfers, return to driving, return to recreational activity — all progress through specific benchmarks that Dr. Warren tracks and advances systematically.
Long-term outcomes: Patients who receive high-quality PT after hip replacement regain function faster, are less likely to require contralateral hip replacement, and maintain better activity levels at 1-2 year follow-up.

Total Knee Replacement Rehabilitation

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) rehabilitation is among the most demanding post-surgical PT programs — and one of the most important. The knee’s functional outcome is highly dependent on aggressive early range of motion restoration and systematic strength progression. Post-TKA PT at Mindful Movement addresses:

Early range of motion (ROM) restoration: The critical window for regaining knee flexion and extension after TKA is the first 6–8 weeks. Patients who fall behind on ROM in this window are at risk for arthrofibrosis — a painful scarring condition that may require a second manipulation procedure. Dr. Warren prioritizes ROM from the first post-surgical session.
Quadriceps activation and strength: Quadriceps inhibition is universal after TKA — the mechanism is neuromuscular, not just pain-related. Restoring quad activation requires specific techniques: neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), straight leg raises, terminal knee extensions — progressed into full quadriceps strengthening.
Swelling management: Post-TKA swelling is significant and affects ROM, pain, and function. Manual lymphatic techniques, elevation, cryotherapy guidance, and compression are integrated into treatment.
Functional milestones: Independent ambulation, stair negotiation, return to driving, return to golf/hiking/cycling — all tracked and progressed with clear objective criteria.
Bilateral TKA management: Some patients have bilateral knee replacements staged 3–6 months apart. Dr. Warren can manage the rehab of both knees, understanding the unique physical and psychological demands of consecutive surgeries.

ACL Reconstruction Rehabilitation

ACL reconstruction rehabilitation is a long process — 9 to 12 months for full return to cutting sports — and the quality of rehab directly determines reinjury risk. The ACL reinjury rate in athletes who return to sport before meeting objective criteria is alarmingly high (up to 25% within two years). Dr. Warren manages ACL rehab through all four phases:

Phase 1 (0–6 weeks): Inflammation control, ROM, early strengthening. Goals: full knee extension equal to uninvolved side, flexion to 90°+, quad activation, independence with ADLs.
Phase 2 (6–12 weeks): Strength and neuromuscular control. Progressive closed-chain strengthening, single-leg stability, proprioceptive training. Symmetry on limb symmetry index (LSI) testing.
Phase 3 (3–6 months): Power, plyometrics, sport-specific movement. Hop testing, reactive neuromuscular control, sport-specific movement patterns. No return to sport until LSI criteria met (typically >90%).
Phase 4 (6–12 months): Return to sport. Functional sport-specific testing, psychological readiness assessment, on-field progressions. Evidence-based criteria — not calendar-based clearance.

Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilitation

Rotator cuff repair rehabilitation requires careful balance: protecting the surgical repair during the healing window while preventing shoulder stiffness and maintaining periscapular function. Most surgeons require strict sling immobilization for 4–6 weeks with limited passive range of motion. Dr. Warren works within your surgeon’s specific protocol while optimizing outcomes through:

Passive and active-assisted ROM progression: Pendulum exercises, table slides, pulley exercises — beginning within the surgeon’s allowed ranges and progressing systematically as healing permits.
Scapular stabilization: Scapular muscle function can be trained even while the repair heals. Middle and lower trapezius, serratus anterior — maintaining scapular stability prevents the stiffness and altered movement patterns that develop during immobilization.
Progressive rotator cuff loading: Beginning at 8–12 weeks (surgeon-dependent), progressive loading of the repaired cuff from isometric through isotonic, open-chain, and closed-chain exercises.
Return to overhead activity and sport: Throwing athletes, swimmers, overhead workers, and recreational athletes all have different return-to-activity criteria. Dr. Warren builds sport-specific and activity-specific progressions.

Spinal Surgery Rehabilitation

Post-surgical PT after spinal procedures varies significantly depending on the procedure performed. Common spinal surgeries Dr. Warren manages include:

Lumbar discectomy / microdiscectomy: Recovery after disc removal focuses initially on neural mobility (sciatic nerve glides if radicular symptoms were present), progressive core stabilization, and posture/mechanics re-education. Most patients return to full function within 6–12 weeks.
Lumbar fusion (ALIF, PLIF, TLIF, XLIF): Spinal fusion rehab is longer — typically 12–16 weeks for initial recovery, with progressive strengthening and activity resumption carefully paced to allow fusion to consolidate. Dr. Warren follows surgeon-specific protocols and precautions for each fusion type.
Cervical surgery (ACDF, cervical disc replacement): Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion rehab focuses on cervical mobility, scapular and upper extremity strength, postural correction, and neural mobility. Cervical disc replacement rehab allows slightly earlier motion restoration than fusion.
Laminectomy / laminotomy: Decompression procedures typically allow earlier rehabilitation with fewer restrictions. Progressive core and hip strengthening with gradual return to activity.
Spinal stenosis decompression: Often performed in older adults with significant deconditioning. A comprehensive approach addressing cardiovascular conditioning, lower extremity strength, balance, and fall prevention alongside spinal recovery.

Why Post-Surgical Rehab Quality Matters

All PT clinics accepting your referral are not equal. In high-volume post-surgical rehab settings, patients often see a PT for the initial evaluation and then spend the majority of subsequent sessions with PT aides performing exercises they could do at home, while the therapist bounces between 4–6 patients simultaneously. This model prioritizes throughput over outcomes.

The evidence is clear: post-surgical outcomes correlate with therapy quality, not just quantity. Studies on TKA and THA outcomes consistently show that hands-on PT — manual therapy, precise manual guidance of exercises, individualized progression — produces better ROM, faster return to function, and higher patient satisfaction than supervised exercise alone.

At Mindful Movement, every session is 55 minutes of direct care with Dr. Warren. No aides. No waiting. No cookie-cutter protocols applied to everyone with the same diagnosis. Your recovery plan is built around your surgery, your surgeon’s protocol, your baseline, and your goals.

Coordination with Your Surgical Team

Seamless coordination with your surgeon is standard practice at Mindful Movement. Dr. Warren:

Reviews your operative report and surgeon’s protocol before your first PT appointment when available
Communicates with your surgeon regarding progress, complications, or protocol modifications when needed
Provides written progress notes for your surgeon’s records upon request
Can attend to patients pre-operatively for pre-hab, when appropriate, to optimize baseline function before surgery and improve post-surgical outcomes

Prehabilitation: Starting PT Before Surgery

Pre-surgical rehabilitation — “prehab” — is one of the most underutilized strategies in orthopedic care. The research consistently shows that patients who complete even 4–6 weeks of targeted exercise before elective joint replacement or spinal surgery have shorter hospital stays, faster functional recovery, fewer post-surgical complications, and higher satisfaction scores.

If you have a joint replacement or spinal surgery scheduled and are waiting for your surgery date, that waiting period is an opportunity. Dr. Warren provides prehab programs for patients awaiting hip replacement, knee replacement, rotator cuff repair, and spinal surgery — building strength, mobility, and neuromuscular baseline that directly translates to better post-surgical outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start PT after surgery?

It depends on the procedure. After total hip or knee replacement, most surgeons want PT to begin within the first week — often inpatient, then outpatient. After ACL reconstruction, outpatient PT typically begins within 1–2 weeks. After rotator cuff repair, the timing depends on tear size and fixation quality — ask your surgeon. After spinal surgery, many surgeons clear patients for outpatient PT within 2–4 weeks. The sooner you start appropriate PT, the better your outcomes in almost every post-surgical scenario.

Can I choose my own PT clinic for post-surgical rehab?

Yes. In Utah, you have the right to choose your physical therapist. Your surgeon’s office may recommend a clinic affiliated with their practice, but you are not obligated to use it. Choosing a PT clinic based on quality of care, therapist credentials, and the type of attention you’ll receive is your right and is worth doing.

Do you accept insurance for post-surgical PT?

Mindful Movement Physical Therapies is an out-of-network provider. We provide you with a superbill (detailed receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. Many PPO plans reimburse a significant portion of out-of-network PT costs. HSA and FSA accounts can be used for PT services. Please contact your insurance to understand your out-of-network PT benefits before your first appointment.

Book Your Post-Surgical PT Appointment in Salt Lake City

Whether your surgery was last week or last year — whether you completed a course of PT elsewhere and feel like you should be further along — Dr. Emily Warren can assess where you are and build a plan to get you where you want to be. Serving Salt Lake City, Holladay, Murray, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, and all of Salt Lake County.

📞 Call: (385) 332-4939
📅 Book Online →
📍 Holladay, UT (serving all of Salt Lake County)

Dr. Emily Warren, DPT | Mindful Movement Physical Therapies | Post-Surgical Rehabilitation & Orthopedic PT

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Post-Surgical Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City | Hip, Knee & Spine Rehab