Knee replacement rehab in Ancaster
Physiotherapy After Knee Replacement
Rehab after a new knee works on knee movement and walking, within your surgeon's plan. We see you one on one on Mohawk Road in Ancaster.
First visit free for new patients · Follow-ups $95 for 30 minutes · Open evenings and Sundays
- 4.9 on Google
- One on One Visits
- Direct Billing Available
- Open Evenings and Sundays
- Free Parking
Rehab Before Surgery (Prehab)
Prehab is exercise before surgery. If your new knee is weeks or months away, you can start now.
What the research says. A 2023 review pooled 48 trials of prehab before bone and joint surgery, with 3,570 people. Before a knee replacement, prehab improved knee function and leg strength before surgery. It also helped knee function 6 weeks after surgery. The reviewers rated this evidence as moderate. Other results were less certain.
If arthritis led to your surgery, see our osteoarthritis page. For other knee problems, see knee physiotherapy.
Knee Replacement Recovery, Week by Week
Everyone heals at their own pace. This is a general guide. Your surgeon's plan comes first.
| Time after surgery | Typical goals |
|---|---|
| Weeks 0 to 2 | Short walks with a walker or crutches. Ice and raise your leg for swelling. Start your bending and straightening exercises. Plan for help at home with jobs like cooking and laundry. |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Walk farther. Move to one crutch or a cane when your team says it's safe. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says most people get back to most daily activities in 3 to 6 weeks. |
| Weeks 6 to 12 | Build strength and balance for stairs. The NHS (the UK's public health service) suggests trying to walk without an aid after about 6 weeks, if you feel ready. Going back to work is usually 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the job. |
| 3 to 6 months | Keep building strength. Ask your surgeon about golf and other low-impact sports. In a 2023 review of golfers with a joint replaced, the average return to golf was a little over 4 months. |
| 6 to 12 months | Keep up your home exercises. Full recovery can take several months or longer. Most surgeons advise against running and jumping on a new knee. |
Based on AAOS, the NHS and the research below. If your surgeon's plan is different, follow it.
What Rehab Works On
Straightening and bending
The goal is a knee that almost fully straightens and bends enough for stairs and a car seat. AAOS says about 115 degrees of motion is average. A right angle is 90 degrees.
Swelling
Your knee and leg may swell. Swelling often lasts several weeks and can take a few months to settle. Alberta Health Services suggests ice for 20 minutes at a time, and raising your foot above your heart.
Walking aids
People often start with a walker or crutches, then go down to one crutch, then a cane. Your surgeon and physiotherapist help you decide when to switch and when to stop.
Strength
We teach you exercises to strengthen your leg. Then we add more in our on-site gym as you're ready.
Stairs
Use a handrail and your cane or crutches on stairs until your balance and strength improve.
Balance
Balance practice is part of rehab. Goals often include curbs and uneven paths.
Getting Back to Driving and Golf
Driving. Your surgeon decides when you can drive. AAOS says most people drive again about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. That's once your knee bends enough to sit in the car and you can brake quickly.
In studies that timed how fast people could brake, getting back to normal took from 10 days to 8 weeks. Canada's medical guide on driving says this varies so much that a doctor should check you first. You must be able to brake hard without pain. Pain pills can also affect driving.
Golf and other activities. AAOS lists walking, swimming, golf, biking and dancing as realistic activities with a new knee. In a 2023 review, about 70% of golfers with a new knee went back to golf. Results varied a lot, so take this as a rough guide.
How Knee Rehab Works at Interlink
We follow your surgeon's instructions, as we do for all post-surgical rehab. Bring any notes from the hospital.
Free first visitFree
A full assessment (about 60 minutes) and your first treatment, free for new patients. It's never billed to your insurer, and there's no obligation to continue.
A plan that follows your surgeon
We check your knee and your walking. Then we set goals with you, like stairs or golf.
One on one visits
Follow-ups are $95 for 30 minutes with a registered physiotherapist. Care can include hands on treatment and exercise in our gym.
Home exercises
You get a home program for between visits. We update it as you progress.
OHIP Funded Rehab and Private Physio
Funded rehab. After a hip or knee replacement in Ontario, many hospitals connect you with a physio clinic that takes part in bundled care, a provincial funding model. That physio is at no cost to you.
In Hamilton Health Sciences' Hip and Knee Bundled Care Program, you book your first physio visit before surgery. That visit is within 7 days after surgery. How long you go depends on your goals and progress. You can also choose another clinic and use your own benefits.
Ontario also funds physio at Community Physiotherapy Clinics. You may qualify if you're 65 or older, 19 or under, or on Ontario Works or ODSP. You may also qualify after an overnight hospital stay or day surgery in the last 12 months, if you need physio for that problem. No referral is needed.
Private physio. Interlink is a private clinic and does not bill OHIP. You can add private visits before surgery, or during or after funded rehab. We're open weekdays until 8:00pm and Sundays from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
Your first visit is free for new patients. Follow-ups are $95, and we bill most insurers directly. Learn more in our guide, Does OHIP cover physiotherapy?
When to Get Help Right Away
Watch for signs of a blood clot or an infection. Call 911 for anything in the first list. Chest pain or trouble breathing can mean a clot has moved to your lungs. For the second list, call your surgeon's office or see a doctor the same day.
Call 911 or go to the ER now
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
See a doctor first
- Calf pain or redness, or new swelling in your calf, ankle or foot
- A temperature of 38°C or higher, or chills
- A wound that is red, hot or swollen, or is draining
- Sudden knee pain with less movement, or you can't put weight on your leg
- Knee pain that keeps getting worse, even at rest
Physio is a good place to start
- Your surgeon has cleared you to start rehab
- Your knee feels stiff
- Stairs or longer walks are still hard
- You want to get stronger before surgery
No referral needed in Ontario. If you need a doctor, we'll tell you at your first visit.
Google reviews
What Patients Say About Our Clinic
Copied word for word from Google. Names are shortened for privacy. A … means part of a longer review is left out.
I chose Interlink Physiotherapy based on glowing reviews and found them fully deserved. My doctor referred me for persistent shoulder pain spanning several months, which an ultrasound diagnosed as bursitis and tendinitis. Dhiman patiently outlined my recovery expectations and timeline, while attentively addressing my concurrent elbow injury. …
I would highly recommend Interlink for physiotherapy sessions. Dhiman is very knowledgeable and patient, taking the time to fully understand what your issues are and making sure he gets a full picture before beginning treatment. He includes you in setting goals and expectations. His treatments are varied and he explains why we would do each exercise. Furthermore, he would provide exercises or stretches to complete at home. Always felt at ease and comfortable to ask any questions or further clarification on anything discussed. …
The space is very clean and the equipment kept in great shape.
All staff are very welcoming and friendly making for a great atmosphere for recovery.
Dhiman went out of his way to support our son during his broken leg recovery. The entire team at Interlink made sure we were cared for, accommodated our schedules and made our son feel special. … Thank you!
Knee Replacement Rehab FAQs
When should I start physio after a knee replacement?
Your surgeon's team sets the date. In Hamilton Health Sciences' program, you book your first visit before surgery. That visit is within 7 days after surgery.
Does OHIP pay for physio after a knee replacement?
Through bundled care, many hospitals connect you with a funded clinic. Interlink is a private clinic and does not bill OHIP.
Can I add private physio to my funded rehab?
Yes. You can book private physio any time, with no referral. Tell each physiotherapist about the other, so your plans fit together.
When can I drive after a knee replacement?
Your surgeon decides. AAOS says most people drive again about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, once they can brake quickly.
Can I golf after a knee replacement?
Many people do. In a 2023 review, about 70% of golfers with a new knee went back to golf. Ask your surgeon when to start.
I'm 65 or older. Are there other funded options?
You may qualify for a Community Physiotherapy Clinic. If you need physio at home, contact Ontario Health atHome. See our seniors page.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book physio in Ontario without a referral. Some insurance plans want a doctor's note before they pay.
Start Your Knee Rehab in Ancaster
Your first visit is free for new patients: a full assessment and your first treatment. Bring your surgeon's instructions, and we'll plan around them.
New patients only · Never billed to your insurer · No referral needed
The Research on This Page
- Punnoose A, Claydon-Mueller L, Weiss O, et al. Prehabilitation for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 2023. Link
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Total knee replacement. OrthoInfo. Link
- NHS. Knee replacement: recovery. Reviewed 2026. Link
- Alberta Health Services. Total knee replacement: what to expect at home. MyHealth.Alberta.ca, 2023. Link
- Canadian Medical Association. CMA Driver's Guide: determining medical fitness to operate motor vehicles, 10th edition. Musculoskeletal disabilities (arthroplasties). 2023. Link
- Robinson PG, Williamson TR, Creighton AP, et al. Rate and timing of return to golf after hip, knee, or shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023. Link
- Government of Ontario. Get physiotherapy. Updated 2026. Link
- College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Government-funded (OHIP) physiotherapy. Updated 2026. Link
- Hamilton Health Sciences. Physiotherapy after surgery: Hip and Knee Bundled Care Program. Patient handout PD 10096, 2025. Link
This page gives general information. Your physiotherapist or doctor can tell you what fits your situation.
Your surgeon's instructions come first. Funding details were checked on 23 September 2026 and can change, so confirm with your hospital.
Reviewed by Dhiman Patel, MScPT, registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Last reviewed 23 September 2026.