Shoulder and Elbow physical therapy after surgery
Salt Lake City's premier physical therapy clinic specializing in rehabilitation of shoulder and elbow surgeries.
Restore Function
Get back to lifting, reaching, throwing, and daily life, without compensating.
Rebuild Strength
Regain the necessary strength for daily activities.
Regain Motion
Safely regain your motion to make life a little easier.
Reduce Pain
Cut post-op pain and stiffness without leaning on long-term medication.
Your Surgery Was a Success. Your Recovery Should Be Too.
Post-surgical upper extremity rehabilitation is specialized physical therapy that restores strength, range of motion, and function to the surgical joints or tissues.
At TKM Labs, that's all we do. Our Doctors of Physical Therapy specialize exclusively in the treatment of the shoulder and elbow. Whether it is a muscle repair or a ligament reconstruction, the team at TKM Labs is ready to help you recover from this surgery.
Why is physical therapy so important after surgery?
Surgery repairs the structure. Rehabilitation is what restores the function. Skipping or rushing physical therapy puts your repair, and your recovery, at serious risk.
- Safely restores range of motion
- Introduces strength training when appropriate
- Helps restore general function and use of the shoulder
- End goal is to return to previous activity levels
Who needs post-surgical upper extremity rehab?
If you've had, or are scheduled for, surgery on your shoulder or elbow, structured rehab isn't optional. It's the difference between a good outcome and a great one.
- Patients recovering from rotator cuff, labral, or shoulder replacement surgery
- Throwing athletes after Tommy John / UCL reconstruction
- Active adults rebuilding after biceps or tendon repair
- Workers returning to physical jobs after elbow surgery
- Anyone whose surgeon has prescribed post-op physical therapy
What surgeries do we rehabilitate?
Comprehensive post-operative physical therapy for the entire upper extremity, shoulder and elbow.
Shoulder Surgeries
- Rotator cuff repair
- SLAP / labral repair
- Bankart repair
- Total shoulder arthroplasty
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty
- Biceps tenodesis
- AC joint reconstruction
- Shoulder arthroscopy & debridement
- Shoulder manipulations under anesthesia
- Pectoralis major repair
Elbow Surgeries
- Tommy John / UCL reconstruction
- Distal biceps tendon repair
- Elbow arthroscopy
Don't see your procedure? We've likely treated it. Call (801) 829-7060 to confirm.
When should you start rehab?
Starting your rehab program at the right time can have a major impact on the outcome of your operation. Depending on your surgery, your surgeon will let you know when to begin your rehab journey. Timelines vary heavily based on the surgery performed as well as the physician.
Don't wait to start your recovery.
Whether your surgery is scheduled, just happened, or was weeks ago, there's a place for you to start. Book a free 15-minute consult and we'll map out your next step.
Book 15-min ConsultMeet Your Shoulder Rehab Specialist
Dr. Court Zollinger, PT, DPT, CAFS
Physical Therapy Clinical Director
Dr. Court Zollinger, PT, DPT, CAFS, specializes in shoulder and upper extremity rehabilitation, with a focus on helping patients recover from surgery and return to full performance. From rotator cuff repairs to shoulder replacements, he has guided countless patients from immobilization back to strength, mobility, and sport.
With a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Idaho State University, Dr. Zollinger has practiced orthopedic physical therapy across Arizona and Utah, continually refining his approach to deliver better outcomes. His passion for rehabilitation was shaped by his own injury-filled Division I baseball career, giving him firsthand insight into what it takes to recover and perform at a high level.
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Zollinger plays a key role in developing the Humero Tech C1®, bringing real-world rehabilitation expertise into cutting-edge technology that improves how patients recover.
Post-Surgical Rehab for Salt Lake City & Surrounding Areas
Patients across the Salt Lake Valley trust us for their post-operative upper extremity recovery.
- Salt Lake City
- North Salt Lake
- South Salt Lake
- West Valley City
- Murray
- Millcreek
- Holladay
- Taylorsville
- Cottonwood Heights
- Draper
- West Jordan
- Sandy
Post-Surgical Rehab Questions
Post-surgical upper extremity rehabilitation is specialized physical therapy that helps restore motion, strength, control, and function after shoulder or elbow surgery. At TKM Labs in Salt Lake City, care is guided by objective testing, surgical precautions, and your recovery goals. Each 60-minute one-on-one session with a Doctor of Physical Therapy is designed to protect the repair, reduce compensation, and help you progress safely toward lasting recovery.
Your surgeon’s protocol determines the safest time to begin, but many patients start physical therapy within the first few days to weeks after shoulder surgery. Early rehab often focuses on protecting the repair, reducing pain and stiffness, and gradually restoring motion. At TKM Labs, post-surgical shoulder rehab is guided by objective data, specialist care, and 60-minute one-on-one sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Skipping physical therapy after shoulder surgery can lead to stiffness, weakness, limited range of motion, and compensations that make daily activities or return to sport harder. In some cases, scar tissue, poor movement patterns, or under-recovered strength can slow progress and affect long-term function. A structured rehab plan with one-on-one guidance from a Doctor of Physical Therapy helps protect the repair, rebuild strength safely, and give you objective milestones for recovery.
Recovery time depends on the procedure, tissue healing, surgeon protocol, and your starting strength and mobility. Many shoulder rehab plans take several months, with progress built in phases to protect the repair while restoring motion, strength, and function. At TKM Labs in Salt Lake City, 60-minute one-on-one sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy and objective testing help guide your timeline with less guesswork.
Yes. We regularly work within surgeon-directed protocols and use them to guide each phase of your post-surgical shoulder rehab. Your Doctor of Physical Therapy will match treatment to your procedure, healing timeline, restrictions, and objective progress measures, so recovery stays safe, precise, and aligned with your surgeon’s plan.
Some discomfort can be normal after shoulder surgery, but rehab should not feel unsafe or out of control. Your Doctor of Physical Therapy will monitor your response closely, adjust each session to your healing stage, and use objective data to guide progress without unnecessary irritation. The goal is to restore motion, strength, and confidence while protecting the surgical repair.
Physical therapy can often help manage post-surgical shoulder pain by improving mobility, reducing guarding, restoring strength, and helping the joint move more efficiently. At TKM Labs, your 60-minute one-on-one sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy are tailored to your surgery, symptoms, and objective progress data. Medication decisions should always be made with your surgeon or prescribing provider, but precise rehab can be an important part of reducing discomfort and supporting recovery.
TKM Labs focuses exclusively on shoulder and elbow rehabilitation, so your care is guided by deep specialization rather than a general orthopedic approach. Each 60-minute session is one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy and uses objective testing, including the Humero Tech C1®, to measure strength, track progress, and refine your plan. For post-surgical shoulder rehab, that means less guesswork and more precise care built around your recovery goals.
Ready to Get Out of Pain? Let's Talk.
Book a free 15-minute consultation with a shoulder rehab specialist and take the first step toward lasting recovery.