Post-Surgical and Therapeutic Exercise

About this course

A 3 CCU course on post-surgical rehabilitation and therapeutic exercise prescription, covering the stages of tissue healing and surgical repair; prehabilitation principles and evidence-based pre-operative interventions; a four-phase post-operative progression from acute management through subacute rehabilitation, progressive strengthening and neuromuscular re-education, and functional return; evidence-based protocols for total knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty with precautions, rotator cuff repair, and shoulder arthroplasty; rehabilitation for spinal surgery including laminectomy, fusion, and discectomy; therapeutic exercise prescription parameters for intensity, volume, frequency, and progression; and selection of outcome measures and return-to-function criteria to guide treatment and discharge. Includes a graded, 20-question post-course assessment; a score of 70% or higher is required to earn CCUs and generate a certificate of completion. Unlimited retakes.

Learning objectives

• Describe the principles of tissue healing, including the stages of inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, and their implications for post-surgical rehabilitation.
• Apply prehabilitation principles and identify evidence-based pre-operative interventions that improve surgical outcomes.
• Implement acute phase post-operative management strategies, including pain control, edema management, and early mobilization.
• Design subacute rehabilitation programs incorporating progressive range of motion, strengthening, and functional activities.
• Apply progressive strengthening and neuromuscular re-education techniques appropriate to post-operative recovery phases.
• Develop functional and activity-specific return programs based on objective criteria and clinical milestones.
• Apply evidence-based rehabilitation protocols for total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty.
• Describe rehabilitation considerations and protocols for rotator cuff repair and shoulder arthroplasty.
• Implement post-operative rehabilitation programs for spinal surgery, including laminectomy, fusion, and discectomy.
• Prescribe therapeutic exercise programs with appropriate parameters for intensity, volume, frequency, and progression.
• Select and apply outcome measures and return-to-function criteria to guide treatment and discharge decisions.

Course outline (14 modules)

1. M1Course Objectives & Financial Disclosures
2. M2Principles of Tissue Healing and Surgical Repair
3. M3Pre-Operative Rehabilitation: Prehab Principles and Evidence
4. M4Post-Operative Phase I — Acute Phase Management (Days 0–2 Weeks)
5. M5Post-Operative Phase II — Subacute Rehabilitation (Weeks 2–6)
6. M6Post-Operative Phase III — Progressive Strengthening and Neuromuscular Re-education
7. M7Post-Operative Phase IV — Functional and Sport-Specific Return
8. M8Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation Protocol
9. M9Total Hip Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: Precautions and Progressions
10. M10Rotator Cuff Repair and Shoulder Arthroplasty Rehabilitation
11. M11Spinal Surgery Rehabilitation: Laminectomy, Fusion, and Discectomy
12. M12Therapeutic Exercise Prescription: Intensity, Volume, Frequency, Progression
13. M13Outcome Measures and Return-to-Function Criteria
14. M14References