Rehabilitation after surgery: physio in Morocco

In short

After ACL reconstruction, France’s HAS guideline says rehabilitation starts when you wake up.
Your physio works within the surgeon’s written instructions: weight-bearing, range, movements to avoid.
In the first weeks, a physio can come to your home if getting out is hard.
Fever, worsening pain or a swollen calf: call the surgeon before the next session.

Many knee, hip and shoulder operations are followed by work with a physiotherapist. This page explains when rehabilitation starts and what the physio does at each stage. It covers why the physio follows your surgeon’s protocol. It also explains when a home visit makes more sense than a clinic. Last, it lists the signs that mean you call the surgeon first.

Many orthopaedic operations are followed by physio

ACL reconstruction, knee replacement, shoulder surgery: France’s national health authority, the HAS, has published rehabilitation guidelines for each. The NHS also describes the physio’s role after a hip replacement. For ACL surgery, the HAS sets clear goals: less pain and more movement first, then strength and stability.

Some fractures need a physio too. For a broken ankle, the NHS says healing usually takes 6 to 8 weeks, sometimes longer. It adds that a physio can then help get the foot and ankle moving again.

Rehabilitation often starts within the first days

After ACL reconstruction, the HAS guideline states that rehabilitation starts on waking. After a hip replacement, the NHS describes physios helping patients walk as soon as possible. The first steps are taken with crutches or a walking frame.

Hospital stays tend to be short. The NHS gives 1 to 3 days for a hip replacement, 1 to 4 days for a knee. After ACL surgery, most people leave the same day, according to the NHS.

These figures come from the UK health system. Your surgeon in Morocco will give you their own. Either way, most of the work then happens at a clinic or at home.

The physio changes the work at each stage

The HAS describes three phases around ACL surgery. Before the operation, when possible, the physio prepares the knee and explains what comes next. Straight after, the work targets pain, protects circulation, and aims to regain bending and straightening.

The second phase builds knee stability, muscle strength and balance. The NHS mentions regular physio for a few months after ACL surgery. It also says a return to sport can take up to a year.

The HAS lists several techniques a physio combines in a session. The physio picks them from their own assessment and the surgeon’s instructions.

An assessment at the start, then at each stage, to measure progress.
Massage, for pain and circulation.
Cold therapy, for inflammation and swelling in the joint.
Joint mobilisation to regain range of movement.
Strengthening of the muscles of the whole leg.
Balance work, then walking on varied ground.
Advice on movements to avoid and on walking aids.

The surgeon’s protocol sets the frame for rehabilitation

Every operation comes with instructions: weight on the leg or not, angles not to exceed, a timetable for progress. The HAS asks that the physio receives the operation report with these instructions. It notes that the report reaches the physio through the patient.

According to the HAS, there is no standard programme, because injuries and surgical techniques vary. The physio builds the plan from their assessment and the surgeon’s instructions. They do not change the protocol without the surgeon’s agreement.

In Morocco, article 4 of Law 45-13 frames this link too. Physios practise on a medical prescription, under a doctor’s supervision, or within their own scope of practice. Keep the prescription, the operation report and your discharge instructions for the first session.

Home visits help in the first weeks

Right after surgery, every trip is hard work. After a hip or total knee replacement, the NHS says to wait at least 6 weeks before driving. Stairs, taxis and a waiting room all weigh more than usual.

The HAS considers outpatient rehabilitation feasible unless the patient’s condition rules out staying at home. It names complications, other health conditions and social isolation. In those cases, a rehabilitation centre is discussed with the surgeon.

Once walking is safe, the clinic comes into its own, as it often has more equipment. You can start at home and move to the clinic if your physio suggests it. Our guide to home physio in Morocco explains how this works.

On Kinero, each physio’s page shows whether they see patients at a clinic, at home, or both. The team checks each physio’s diploma before the page goes live, and messaging a physio is free. Find a physio

Some signs mean calling the surgeon before the session

The HAS lists the signs that should send a patient back to the surgeon after ACL surgery. The NHS gives a similar list after a hip replacement. If one of them appears, call your surgeon or doctor before the next session.

According to the NHS, leg pain with difficulty breathing or chest pain is an emergency. In that case, go to the emergency department straight away.

A temperature above 38 °C, according to the HAS.
Pain at rest that keeps increasing.
Heat, redness or swelling that is not getting better.
A wound that oozes or is not healing well.
A painful or swollen calf, a possible sign of a blood clot.

Common questions

When does physio start after knee surgery?

After ACL reconstruction, the HAS says rehabilitation starts on waking. After a knee replacement, the NHS describes walking with help soon after the operation. Your surgeon sets the pace of the sessions.

How long does rehabilitation take after a hip replacement?

The NHS says recovery from a hip replacement may take several months, depending on age and general health. The number of sessions depends on the surgeon’s instructions and the physio’s assessment.

Do I need a prescription for physio after surgery in Morocco?

Law 45-13 says physios practise on a medical prescription, under a doctor’s supervision, or within their own scope. After surgery, the HAS also asks that the physio has the operation report and the surgeon’s instructions.

Can a physio come to my home after an operation?

Yes, some physios do home visits. On Kinero, each physio’s page shows whether they work at a clinic, at home, or both.

A physio near you

Physios whose diploma Kinero has checked, city by city. Writing is free.

Find a physio

Sources

This guide informs. It does not replace the advice of your doctor or of your physio.

Physiotherapy after surgery: what your physio does at each stage