Online Physiotherapy After Surgery: Guide

Start with the surgeon’s plan

Post-surgical care differs by procedure, tissue involved, individual health and the instructions provided at discharge. Before a physiotherapy conversation, locate the operation or discharge summary, written restrictions, follow-up plan and the best contact route for the surgical team. If instructions are unclear or appear to conflict, ask the operating team to clarify them instead of choosing the most permissive version. A general website cannot determine weight-bearing limits, sling use, wound care or when a specific exercise may begin. Do not progress activity because a video or article appears to show a similar operation.

Give the physiotherapist enough context

Share the surgery date and type if known, what the surgeon said to avoid or prioritise, current support devices and which daily task is difficult. Mention any change since discharge, current medical follow-up and what you hope to discuss. If a caregiver helps with transfers or routines, explain what support is already in place. Useful context is specific but does not need medical jargon. If you do not know the name of the procedure or a clinical term, say so. The clinician can then decide what can be discussed remotely and what information needs confirmation from the treating team.

• Operation date and available discharge instructions
• Current restrictions, supports and follow-up appointments
• A change or concern since leaving hospital
• The daily task or question you want to address

What a video discussion may and may not do

A video visit may be useful for clarifying the plan, reviewing a home setup, discussing questions or deciding whether the next step needs to happen in person. If the clinician asks to observe a comfortable activity, follow the surgical restrictions and stop if it feels unsafe. Video cannot palpate a wound, test every movement, check all equipment or replace a review by the operating team. A clinician may recommend a different route when direct examination or coordination with the surgeon is needed. This is a safety decision, not a failed appointment.

Prepare the room and people joining

Use a stable device position, good light and a quiet space. Keep documents nearby, but share personal records only through the agreed channel. Have any prescribed walking aid or support within reach; do not remove it for the camera. If a caregiver is involved, agree on their role and let the clinician know who is present. Ask for an interpreter or communication support before the call if needed. There is no requirement to create a staged demonstration: the purpose is to share context safely and agree the appropriate next step, not to perform a test without guidance.

Questions to discuss with the surgeon and physiotherapist

Useful questions include which movements are currently permitted, what warning signs should prompt a call, when the next surgical review is due and who should answer a question about the wound or medication. Ask the physiotherapist what can be assessed by video, how to keep activities within the prescribed limits and whether the clinician needs the surgeon’s plan before offering suggestions. If the care team recommends in-person review, ask what service is appropriate and how urgently to arrange it. These questions do not replace instructions already given; they help you understand and communicate them.

• Which restrictions still apply, and when will they be reviewed?
• Who should I contact about a new wound or medical concern?
• What can the physiotherapist assess safely by video?
• What would make an in-person review the better option?

When to seek urgent or in-person care

Contact the surgical team or an appropriate local health service promptly if you are concerned about a new wound change, fever, increasing redness, swelling, drainage, worsening pain or another symptom named in your discharge instructions. Seek emergency help for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists redness or pain around the surgical site, cloudy drainage and fever among possible surgical-site infection signs; it does not replace the instructions from your own care team. Do not wait for a routine online appointment to resolve a possible complication. This article is educational, does not diagnose infection and does not prescribe a post-operative plan.