At CPS, we regularly treat patients recovering from: 

• Rotator cuff repairs (partial or full-thickness tears) 

• Shoulder stabilisation surgery (for recurrent dislocations) 

• Labral repairs (SLAP, Bankart lesions) 

• Acromioplasty (removal of bone spurs or impingement) 

• Total or reverse shoulder replacements 

• Fracture-related surgeries (clavicle, humerus) 

Each has its own rehab timeline — but all follow the same principle: you need a physio who understands surgical healing and progressive reconditioning. 

Here’s how recovery typically unfolds, and how we support you through each phase: 

🔹 Phase 1: Protection & Early Mobility (Weeks 0–4) 

Goal: Protect healing tissue, reduce swelling, and restore gentle movement. 

• Work with your surgeon’s protocol — sling management, positioning, and sleeping advice 

• Passive range of motion guided by your physio (no active lifting yet) 

• Gentle scapular mobility and posture correction 

• Pain relief strategies (ice, manual therapy where appropriate) 

We monitor every step — your healing progress, surgical site condition, and confidence. 

✅ This is when patients most appreciate having a physio on-call — guiding safe movement without fear of “undoing” the surgery. 

 

🔹 Phase 2: Controlled Activation & Stability (Weeks 4–8) 

Goal: Begin using muscles again, gently and precisely. 

• Activate rotator cuff and scapular muscles with guided isometrics 

• Continue passive and assisted mobility work 

• Introduce Pilates-informed movement control to retrain joint coordination 

• Begin progressive load-bearing tasks (as per surgeon clearance) 

This phase is delicate. Overloading too soon is common — but we pace it smartly. 

 

🔹 Phase 3: Strength & Function Rebuild (Weeks 8–16+) 

Goal: Restore muscle strength, endurance, and shoulder coordination. 

• Move into resistance-based rehab (bands, weights, functional drills) 

• Correct compensation patterns that developed pre- or post-op 

• Improve posture, breathing mechanics, and whole-body control 

• Reintroduce higher-level movement (lifting, reaching, carrying) 

This is where you feel the difference between “ok” recovery and full, confident function. 

 

🔹 Phase 4: Return to Sport or Work (Month 4+) 

Goal: Meet real-world or sport-specific demands safely and confidently. 

• Test and challenge your shoulder under dynamic load 

• Use sport-specific conditioning (e.g. throwing, push-ups, overhead work) 

• For tradies: drills for lifting, overhead tasks, and tool handling 

• For athletes: cutting, landing, and contact tolerance testing 

• Final strength symmetry testing and exit programming 

We also collaborate with your specialist or GP to give you clear clearance and documentation if needed. 

We don’t just hand you a sheet of exercises and send you on your way. 

At Clinical Physio Solutions, our post-op rehab programs are built and delivered by: 

• APA Registered Physios with post-surgical training 

• Exercise Physiologists who specialise in progressive reloading 

• Pilates-trained clinicians for motor control and movement precision 

• Access to real-world rehab spaces (not just a treatment room) 

We also bring the human side — helping patients rebuild confidence, understand their body, and stay accountable during long recoveries. 

Every case is different, but here’s a general timeline: 

Surgery Type	Expected Full Recovery
Arthroscopic decompression	8–12 weeks
Partial rotator cuff repair	3–4 months
Full rotator cuff or labral repair	4–6 months
Shoulder stabilisation surgery	4–5 months
Shoulder replacement	6–9 months

Note: “Full recovery” means pain-free movement, strength symmetry, and readiness for your sport or daily life demands. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid After Shoulder Surgery 

❌ Avoiding movement for too long 
❌ Doing too much too soon 
❌ Relying only on passive treatment (massage, ultrasound, etc.) 
❌ Not progressing beyond “basic rehab” 
❌ Skipping strength and sport/work-specific prep 

With proper physio, you avoid all of the above — and save yourself months of frustration. 

We’ve helped hundreds of Sydney patients recover after shoulder surgery — and we’re here to guide you from day one to full strength.