Recovery Education — Orthopedic Surgery Recovery Guides

A public library of patient-friendly articles spanning every major orthopedic specialty — hip and knee replacement, sports medicine, spine, foot and ankle, hand, shoulder and elbow, and fracture care. Written for patients and grounded in established recovery principles.

Looking for a non-surgical diagnosis instead? Browse condition guides by diagnosis.

Featured guides

Recovery by specialty

Hip & Knee Replacement

Hip Replacement Recovery Timeline: Week by Week · Knee Replacement Recovery: Week by Week · Recovery After Hip Replacement

Sports Medicine

ACL Surgery Recovery · Meniscus Surgery Recovery · Recovery After Knee Arthroscopy

Spine Surgery

ACDF (Cervical Fusion) Recovery · Lumbar Fusion Recovery · Lumbar Microdiscectomy Recovery

Foot & Ankle

Bunion Surgery Recovery · Achilles Tendon Surgery Recovery · Ankle Fracture Surgery Recovery

Hand & Wrist

Carpal Tunnel Surgery Recovery · Trigger Finger Surgery Recovery · Wrist Fracture (Distal Radius) Recovery

Shoulder & Elbow

Shoulder Replacement Recovery · Reverse Shoulder Replacement Recovery · Sleeping and the Sling After Shoulder Surgery

Fracture & Trauma

How Long a Broken Bone Takes to Heal · Broken Leg Surgery Recovery · Broken Arm Surgery Recovery

Every recovery guide

Hip & Knee Replacement

Exercise programs

Conversion to Total Hip Arthroplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Hip Antibiotic Spacer (Stage 1 of Two-Stage Revision) exercises — 24 exercises
Hip Hemiarthroplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Knee Antibiotic Spacer (Stage 1 of Two-Stage Revision) exercises — 24 exercises
Knee Manipulation (MUA) exercises — 45 exercises
Patellofemoral Arthroplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Removal of Hip Prosthesis exercises — 45 exercises
Removal of Knee Prosthesis exercises — 45 exercises
Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty (Acetabular Component) exercises — 45 exercises
Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty (Both Components) exercises — 45 exercises
Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty (Femoral Component) exercises — 45 exercises
Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty (Both Components) exercises — 45 exercises
Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty (One Component) exercises — 45 exercises
Total Hip Arthroplasty exercises — 69 exercises
Total Knee Arthroplasty exercises — 73 exercises
Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Hip Avascular Necrosis exercises — 32 exercises
Hip Dysplasia exercises — 32 exercises
Hip Fracture Recovery exercises — 31 exercises
Hip Impingement (FAI) exercises — 32 exercises
Hip Labral Tear exercises — 32 exercises
Hip Osteoarthritis exercises — 32 exercises
Hip Pain exercises — 32 exercises
Knee Osteoarthritis exercises — 34 exercises
Knee Pain exercises — 31 exercises
Meniscus Tear exercises — 31 exercises
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome exercises — 33 exercises
Prepatellar Bursitis exercises — 30 exercises
Trochanteric Bursitis exercises — 34 exercises

Sports Medicine

Exercise programs

AC Joint Reconstruction exercises — 42 exercises
ACL Reconstruction exercises — 48 exercises
ACL Revision Reconstruction exercises — 50 exercises
Biceps Tenodesis (Arthroscopic) exercises — 40 exercises
Distal Biceps Tendon Repair exercises — 40 exercises
Distal Clavicle Excision exercises — 36 exercises
Hip Arthroscopy with FAI Decompression exercises — 42 exercises
Hip Arthroscopy with Labral Repair exercises — 44 exercises
Knee Arthroscopy (Diagnostic / Debridement) exercises — 30 exercises
Knee Arthroscopy with Partial Meniscectomy exercises — 38 exercises
Knee Chondroplasty (Cartilage Debridement) exercises — 38 exercises
Latarjet Procedure exercises — 44 exercises
MACI Cartilage Implantation exercises — 46 exercises
MCL Reconstruction exercises — 44 exercises
Meniscal Allograft Transplantation exercises — 47 exercises
Meniscal Repair exercises — 46 exercises
Microfracture (Knee Cartilage) exercises — 44 exercises
MPFL Reconstruction (Patellar Stabilization) exercises — 45 exercises
Open Rotator Cuff Repair exercises — 44 exercises
Osteochondral Autograft (OATS) exercises — 45 exercises
Patellar Tendon Repair exercises — 46 exercises
PCL Reconstruction exercises — 47 exercises
Quadriceps Tendon Repair exercises — 44 exercises
SLAP Repair exercises — 42 exercises
Subacromial Decompression exercises — 38 exercises
UCL Reconstruction (Tommy John) exercises — 42 exercises
Gouty Arthropathy (Knee) exercises — 28 exercises
Patellar Tendinopathy exercises — 34 exercises
Quadriceps Tendinopathy (Knee) exercises — 32 exercises

Spine Surgery

Exercise programs

Adult Spinal Deformity Correction exercises — 45 exercises
Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion exercises — 46 exercises
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) exercises — 45 exercises
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) exercises — 45 exercises
Anterior Scoliosis Correction exercises — 45 exercises
Cervical Disc Replacement exercises — 45 exercises
Cervical Hardware Removal exercises — 45 exercises
Cervical Laminectomy exercises — 45 exercises
Cervical Laminoplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Cervical Microdiscectomy (Posterior) exercises — 45 exercises
Interspinous Spacer Implant exercises — 45 exercises
Kyphoplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF / XLIF / OLIF) exercises — 45 exercises
Lumbar Disc Replacement exercises — 45 exercises
Lumbar Hardware Removal exercises — 45 exercises
Lumbar Laminectomy exercises — 45 exercises
Lumbar Microdiscectomy exercises — 45 exercises
Lumbar Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy exercises — 45 exercises
Lumbar Posterolateral Fusion exercises — 45 exercises
Posterior Cervical Fusion exercises — 45 exercises
Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis exercises — 45 exercises
Revision ACDF exercises — 45 exercises
Revision Lumbar Fusion exercises — 45 exercises
Sacroiliac Joint Fusion exercises — 45 exercises
Sacroplasty exercises — 45 exercises
Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant exercises — 45 exercises
Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial exercises — 18 exercises
Spinal Tumor Resection exercises — 45 exercises
Thoracic Fusion exercises — 45 exercises
Thoracic Laminectomy exercises — 45 exercises
Cervical Radiculopathy exercises — 28 exercises
Cervical Spinal Stenosis exercises — 28 exercises
Cervical Spondylosis exercises — 28 exercises
Cervical Strain exercises — 28 exercises
Cervicogenic Headache exercises — 28 exercises
Low Back Pain exercises — 32 exercises
Lumbar Disc Disease exercises — 32 exercises
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis exercises — 35 exercises
Neck Pain exercises — 28 exercises
Sciatica (Lumbar Radiculopathy) exercises — 33 exercises
Spondylolisthesis exercises — 34 exercises

Foot & Ankle

Exercise programs

Achilles Tendon Lengthening exercises — 44 exercises
Achilles Tendon Reconstruction exercises — 45 exercises
Achilles Tendon Repair exercises — 39 exercises
Ankle Arthroscopy (Cartilage Repair) exercises — 42 exercises
Ankle Arthroscopy (Debridement) exercises — 40 exercises
Ankle Fusion (Tibiotalar Arthrodesis) exercises — 44 exercises
Ankle ORIF (Bimalleolar) exercises — 41 exercises
Ankle ORIF (Trimalleolar) exercises — 45 exercises
Brostrom Procedure (Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction) exercises — 45 exercises
Bunionectomy (Double Osteotomy) exercises — 44 exercises
Calcaneus Fracture ORIF exercises — 43 exercises
Cheilectomy (Big Toe) exercises — 42 exercises
Distal Fibula Fracture ORIF exercises — 45 exercises
Fifth Metatarsal Fracture ORIF exercises — 45 exercises
First MTP Fusion (Hallux Rigidus) exercises — 45 exercises
Flexor Tendon Repair (Leg) exercises — 41 exercises
Gastrocnemius Recession exercises — 43 exercises
Hammertoe Correction exercises — 44 exercises
Keller Bunionectomy exercises — 41 exercises
Lapidus Bunionectomy exercises — 45 exercises
Lisfranc Injury ORIF exercises — 40 exercises
Medial Displacement Calcaneal Osteotomy exercises — 42 exercises
Morton's Neuroma Excision exercises — 38 exercises
Peroneal Tendon Repair exercises — 41 exercises
Plantar Fascia Release exercises — 45 exercises
Posterior Tibial Tendon Reconstruction exercises — 44 exercises
Subtalar Fusion exercises — 44 exercises
Tarsal Tunnel Release exercises — 45 exercises
Total Ankle Arthroplasty exercises — 44 exercises
Triple Arthrodesis exercises — 46 exercises
Achilles Tendinopathy exercises — 25 exercises
Ankle Arthritis exercises — 25 exercises
Ankle Pain exercises — 25 exercises
Ankle Sprain exercises — 25 exercises
Bunion (Hallux Valgus) exercises — 25 exercises
Chronic Ankle Instability exercises — 25 exercises
Flat Feet exercises — 25 exercises
Foot Pain exercises — 25 exercises
Hallux Rigidus exercises — 25 exercises
Metatarsalgia exercises — 25 exercises
Morton's Neuroma exercises — 25 exercises
Peroneal Tendinopathy exercises — 25 exercises
Plantar Fasciitis exercises — 25 exercises
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction exercises — 25 exercises

Hand & Wrist

Exercise programs

Carpal Tunnel Release (Endoscopic) exercises — 28 exercises
Carpal Tunnel Release (Open) exercises — 30 exercises
Cubital Tunnel Release exercises — 30 exercises
de Quervain Release exercises — 24 exercises
DIP Fusion (Arthrodesis) exercises — 20 exercises
Distal Radius Closed Reduction exercises — 26 exercises
Distal Radius Fracture ORIF exercises — 38 exercises
Dupuytren Fasciectomy exercises — 30 exercises
Extensor Tendon Repair exercises — 32 exercises
Flexor Tendon Repair exercises — 34 exercises
Ganglion Cyst Excision (Wrist) exercises — 26 exercises
MCP Joint Arthroplasty exercises — 28 exercises
Metacarpal Fracture ORIF exercises — 28 exercises
Mucous Cyst Excision exercises — 22 exercises
Needle Aponeurotomy (Dupuytren) exercises — 24 exercises
Olecranon Bursectomy exercises — 20 exercises
Partial Wrist Fusion (Four-Corner Fusion) exercises — 32 exercises
Phalanx Fracture ORIF exercises — 26 exercises
PIP Fusion (Arthrodesis) exercises — 24 exercises
PIP Joint Arthroplasty exercises — 26 exercises
Proximal Row Carpectomy exercises — 28 exercises
Scaphoid Fracture ORIF exercises — 30 exercises
Tennis Elbow Release (Lateral Epicondyle) exercises — 26 exercises
TFCC Repair (Arthroscopic) exercises — 30 exercises
Thumb CMC Arthroplasty (LRTI / Suspensionplasty) exercises — 30 exercises
Total Wrist Fusion (Arthrodesis) exercises — 26 exercises
Trigger Finger Release exercises — 20 exercises
Ulnar Nerve Transposition exercises — 34 exercises
Wrist Arthroscopy (Diagnostic) exercises — 22 exercises
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome exercises — 25 exercises
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis exercises — 25 exercises
Finger Arthritis exercises — 25 exercises
Hand Pain exercises — 25 exercises
Thumb Arthritis exercises — 25 exercises
Trigger Finger exercises — 25 exercises
Wrist Arthritis exercises — 25 exercises
Wrist Pain exercises — 25 exercises
Wrist Sprain exercises — 25 exercises

Shoulder & Elbow

Exercise programs

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair exercises — 42 exercises
Bankart Repair (Shoulder Stabilization) exercises — 42 exercises
Clavicle Fracture ORIF exercises — 36 exercises
Distal Humerus ORIF exercises — 42 exercises
Massive Rotator Cuff Repair with Tendon Transfer exercises — 45 exercises
Olecranon Fracture ORIF exercises — 38 exercises
Proximal Humerus Fracture ORIF exercises — 42 exercises
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty exercises — 40 exercises
Revision Total Elbow Arthroplasty exercises — 40 exercises
Revision Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (Both Components) exercises — 44 exercises
Revision Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (One Component) exercises — 42 exercises
Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty exercises — 41 exercises
Superior Capsular Reconstruction exercises — 43 exercises
Total Elbow Arthroplasty exercises — 38 exercises
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (Anatomic) exercises — 44 exercises
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome exercises — 25 exercises
Elbow Arthritis exercises — 25 exercises
Elbow Bursitis (Olecranon) exercises — 25 exercises
Elbow Pain exercises — 25 exercises
Golfer's Elbow exercises — 25 exercises
Rotator Cuff Tear exercises — 28 exercises
Shoulder Arthritis exercises — 28 exercises
Shoulder Bursitis (Subacromial) exercises — 28 exercises
Shoulder Impingement exercises — 28 exercises
Shoulder Instability exercises — 28 exercises
Shoulder Labral Tear exercises — 28 exercises
Shoulder Pain exercises — 29 exercises
Tennis Elbow exercises — 25 exercises

Fracture & Trauma

Before & After Surgery

Exercise programs

Bone Biopsy (Needle / Percutaneous) exercises — 10 exercises
Bone Biopsy (Open) exercises — 14 exercises
Bone Cyst Curettage with Bone Grafting exercises — 32 exercises
Bone Debridement (Osteomyelitis) exercises — 30 exercises
Bone Graft Harvest (Iliac Crest) exercises — 24 exercises
Fasciotomy (Compartment Syndrome) exercises — 34 exercises
Femoral Shaft Fracture ORIF exercises — 40 exercises
Forearm Fracture ORIF (Radius / Ulna Shaft) exercises — 32 exercises
Foreign Body Removal (Deep) exercises — 15 exercises
Hardware Removal (Deep) exercises — 26 exercises
Irrigation and Debridement (Deep) exercises — 26 exercises
Joint Aspiration (Large Joint) exercises — 8 exercises
Soft Tissue Biopsy (Deep) exercises — 12 exercises
Soft Tissue Mass Excision (Deep) exercises — 20 exercises
Tibial Shaft Fracture ORIF exercises — 40 exercises

Browse all procedure recovery guides — what to expect after surgery, grouped by specialty.

Not had surgery, or still deciding? Browse the condition guides — non-operative care for over 60 orthopedic diagnoses.

Looking for the exercises themselves? Browse the illustrated exercise guides — phase-by-phase programs for surgery and non-operative recovery — or look up a single movement in the exercise library.

Are you a clinician? See how orthopedic practices use JointBooklet.

This guide is general education and doesn't replace evaluation by a licensed provider. Recovery and treatment vary by person — follow the guidance of your own surgeon or care team.