Preparing for surgery, also called prehabilitation, is physiotherapy before a planned operation: knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction or spinal surgery. At our clinic in Rydułtowy we work on strength and range of movement, teach you to walk on crutches and the exercises for the first days after the operation, and then provide post-operative rehabilitation. A consultation costs 180 PLN. Visits are private, with no referral needed.
Below you will find out when to come in for preparation, what we work on before the operation and how the move to rehabilitation after surgery works. If you have already had your operation, see also the page rehabilitation after injury or surgery, and if you are only just looking for help with joint pain, see the page knee and hip.
In brief
- Physiotherapy consultation: 180 PLN, manual therapy: 180 PLN.
- Preparation before knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction and spinal surgery — it is worth coming in as soon as you have been approved for the operation.
- After surgery: scar therapy 180 PLN, manual lymphatic drainage 110 PLN, home physiotherapy approx. 200 PLN.
- The clinic is open Mon–Fri 7:00–20:00, for private visits only (not covered by NFZ, the Polish public health fund, and no referral needed).
When should you see a doctor or go to A&E (SOR) first?
- before the operation your symptoms get clearly worse, or the joint locks or “gives way” — contact the operating surgeon;
- increasing weakness or numbness in the leg, numbness around the groin and buttocks, difficulty passing urine or stools — go to A&E urgently;
- the joint is hot, red and swollen, or you develop a fever;
- after surgery: fever, chills, redness, discharge or the wound opening up;
- swelling, pain and warmth in one calf, shortness of breath or chest pain — see a doctor urgently or call 112;
- after a hip replacement: sudden pain, a shortened or unnaturally positioned leg, or being unable to put weight on it — A&E.
Why is it worth preparing for surgery in advance?
A common mistake is to start rehabilitation only a few weeks after the operation. Before a planned procedure there is time that is often lacking later: you can work on muscle strength and range of movement, and learn the post-operative exercises and how to walk on crutches before the pain and swelling after surgery set in. This kind of preparation may make the first weeks after the operation easier, although recovery depends on many factors.
This approach is close to the heart of the clinic’s founder, Tatiana Grabowska: before a planned procedure such as a joint replacement, it is worth starting to prepare even several months in advance. We set the scope and intensity of the exercises individually, taking into account your doctor’s recommendations and your health. The decision about the operation and its date is always made by the doctor.
What does preparation for joint replacement, ACL or spinal surgery involve?
At the first visit the physiotherapist takes your history, reviews your medical records and assesses strength, range of movement, walking and balance. They then put together an exercise plan suited to the type of operation: before a joint replacement it usually focuses on the thigh and buttock muscles, before ACL reconstruction on full knee extension, and before spinal surgery on safe positions and getting out of bed. You continue the exercises at home.
Part of the visits is spent learning what you will need right after the operation: walking on crutches on the flat and on stairs, getting up from a chair and bed, and the first post-operative exercises. We also talk about preparing your home — removing rugs and thresholds that are easy to trip over, a stable chair with armrests, and keeping the things you need most within reach. For joint pain, the physiotherapist may suggest manual therapy if there are no contraindications.
How does the move to rehabilitation after surgery work?
After the operation you come back to a physiotherapist who knows your condition from before the procedure, and you are already familiar with the exercises from the preparation period. We start rehabilitation at the time and to the extent set by the operating surgeon, and if your mobility is limited, also at home. The plan includes exercises, manual therapy and, once the wound has healed, scar therapy, plus lymphatic drainage for swelling.
Bring your hospital discharge notes, the surgery report and the recommendations on weight-bearing and permitted movements to your first visit after the operation. The physiotherapist compares the results with the assessment from before the operation and adjusts the plan accordingly. If they notice symptoms that need checking, they refer you to the doctor in charge of your care.
Manual therapyExercises, joint mobilisation and soft tissue work before and after the operation180 PLNScar therapyWork on a post-operative scar once the wound has healed180 PLNManual lymphatic drainageFor swelling that persists after the operation110 PLNManual therapy + kinesio tapingManual therapy with kinesio taping190 PLNIf you cannot yet travel to the clinic after the operation, rehabilitation can begin at home. Approx. PLN 200 within 5 km of Rydułtowy, then + PLN 2/km. We confirm the exact price when booking, based on the fastest route at the time of the visit.
Who provides this care
Preparation for surgery and rehabilitation afterwards are provided by every physiotherapist at the clinic: Tatiana Grabowska, the clinic’s founder (whose training includes functional physiotherapy of the knee joint and of the hip joint and pelvic girdle), Agnieszka Piekarska and Paulina Gańczorz, who also works with post-operative scars.
Guides
- Rehabilitation after knee replacement — stages and exercises
- Rehabilitation after hip replacement — stages and exercises
- Rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction — what does the return to fitness look like?
- Knee osteoarthritis — exercises you can do at home
- Lumbar disc disease — does physiotherapy help?
- Rehabilitation for older people after leaving hospital — where to start?
Frequently asked questions
How long before the operation should I see a physiotherapist?
Ideally straight away, as soon as the doctor approves you for the operation and you know the date. For planned operations such as a joint replacement, it is worth starting even several months in advance — that leaves time to learn the exercises and build up strength gradually. A shorter period can also be put to good use, e.g. to learn to walk on crutches.
Won’t exercising before the operation harm a painful joint?
Exercises are chosen to match your current abilities and level of pain, not a general template. The physiotherapist watches how the joint responds and changes the load or type of movement if needed. If the doctor has recommended restrictions before the operation, the plan follows them. If your symptoms get clearly worse, it is worth contacting the operating surgeon.
Will preparing for surgery shorten my recovery?
That cannot be guaranteed. How you recover depends on the type of procedure, your health, healing and the doctor’s recommendations. Preparation does, however, help you enter the post-operative period already familiar with the exercises, walking on crutches and everyday activities, which may make the first days after leaving hospital easier.
What should I bring to the first visit before the operation?
Bring the records from your approval for the operation, imaging results (X-ray, MRI), reports on previous treatment and a list of the medicines you take. Information about the date and type of operation and the doctor’s recommendations will also be useful. Wear comfortable clothes so that the physiotherapist can assess movement in the joint or spine.
- Consultation180 PLN
- Referralnot needed
- ReceptionMon–Fri: 7.00–20.00
