Assessment
A detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a plan agreed with you, not handed to you.
What We Treat
Upper Limb Surgery Rehabilitation in London
Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand surgery all need careful, staged rehab to protect the repair and get full use of the arm back. Our physiotherapists and specialist hand therapist work to your surgeon's plan, from the first days after the operation to a full return to work, training and sport.
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- Self-referral; no GP letter needed.
Our upper limb surgery rehab team
Jen Parr
Hand Therapist
Augustin “Gus” Hadonou
Co-Founder & Chartered Physiotherapist, MAACP, BSc
Charlie Briers
Chartered Physiotherapist, BSc
Claire Cuffe
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, MSc
Jubilee Viforj
Chartered Physiotherapist, BSc
David Thomas
Founder & Chartered Physiotherapist, MSc, BSc
Brad Donnelly
Chartered Physiotherapist, BSc, MSc
Stefanie Yeh
Chartered Physiotherapist, DPT, BSc
Liam Thornton
Paediatric Physiotherapist, MCSP, BSc
Overview
Understanding upper limb surgery rehab
Surgery on the arm repairs a tendon, steadies a joint, fixes a fracture or frees a trapped nerve. The weeks that follow decide how much movement, strength and control you get back. Protect the repair too little and it can fail; protect it too much and the joint stiffens. Getting that balance right is what rehabilitation is for.
We work with people after surgery across the whole upper limb:
- Shoulder: rotator-cuff repair, stabilisation after dislocation, and joint replacement.
- Elbow: fracture fixation, tendon repair and tennis elbow surgery.
- Wrist and hand: fracture fixation, carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, tendon repair, Dupuytren's surgery and thumb base surgery such as trapeziectomy, led by our specialist hand therapist.
Every plan starts with your surgeon's instructions: how long to wear a sling or splint, which movements to avoid, and when you can start to load the arm. Rehab can begin within days of the operation. Early work protects the repair and keeps the neighbouring joints moving; middle stages restore range and rebuild strength, below shoulder height first; later stages bring back overhead strength, grip and the specific demands of your work or sport.
Hand therapy adds what hand and wrist surgery needs: custom splints, scar and swelling management, and fine movement work to restore grip and dexterity. Throughout, we progress you on what you can do rather than on dates alone, and keep your surgeon informed.
Excellent
From 6 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
David helped me when I started to have a strong tibia pain only 5 weeks before the marathon. I genuinely thought at some point that I wasn’t going to be able to do it and I did my PB!
After suffering with terrible back pain, Gus has helped me make huge improvements. Very professional and happy to explain the processes and treatments. Many thanks
Couldn’t recommend this physio team enough! They helped me recover from a knee injury 3 weeks before the London Marathon which I thought was going to prevent me from running it! Everyone was really friendly, supportive and genuinely cared about helping me reach my goal. Special thanks to Charlie, Gus, Brad and Stef!
I came to Dave with an ongoing injury that I’ve been struggling with for months! He helped sort it out straight away, also giving me some exercises to help target the area to get back to full strength. I’m now back to running pain-free already and training properly — I’ll definitely be recommending Kaizen Physiotherapy to my clients!
Gus worked miracles to get me running a marathon after being injured 6 weeks out. He worked out the issue really quickly and provided a clear and actionable plan to deal with it. The sports massages were the best I’ve ever had too — thanks Peggy! Can’t recommend Gus and Peggy enough.
I had such a positive experience working with Brad at Kaizen. He supported me through a meniscus tear and got me all the way back to running a half marathon and HYROX training. Everything was structured, progressive, and easy to follow, and I always felt like I was in safe hands.
Upper limb surgery rehabilitation can help to:
Work to your surgeon's plan
We start from your surgeon's instructions: how long to wear a sling or splint, which movements to avoid and when the arm can take load. Everything we add sits inside those limits, and we explain each stage so you know what is safe.
Protect the repair early
The first weeks protect the tendon, joint or fracture while keeping the neck, elbow, wrist and fingers moving. Early, careful movement is what stops the shoulder or hand stiffening, which is far harder to fix later.
Restore movement and strength in stages
Middle stages bring back range, then strength, starting below shoulder height and building towards overhead work. Each review measures your progress against where you started, and you move on when you are ready.
Specialist hand and wrist care
After hand and wrist surgery our hand therapist makes custom splints, manages scars and swelling, and guides the fine movement work that restores grip and dexterity, so you can type, carry and grip again.
Return you to work and sport
Later stages restore full strength, overhead capacity and grip for what you need to get back to: lifting, training, contact sport or a long day at a keyboard. Returning before strength is back is a common reason for setbacks, so we check before you go.
Keep the whole picture joined up
You see the same clinicians throughout, with physiotherapy and hand therapy working from one plan, and we keep your surgeon or consultant informed as you progress.
Why it happens
What causes upper limb surgery rehab?
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Rotator-cuff repair, where the tendon needs protecting for several weeks before it can be loaded and strengthened
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Shoulder stabilisation after dislocation, where range and strength return in stages so the joint stays stable
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Elbow surgery for fracture, tendon repair or tennis elbow, where stiffness sets in quickly without early guided movement
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Wrist fracture fixation, needing work on range, grip strength and the swelling that limits the hand
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Hand surgery such as carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, tendon repair or Dupuytren's surgery, needing splinting, scar care and fine movement work
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Returning to lifting, overhead work or sport before strength and control have been fully rebuilt
At your first appointment we work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your initial visit runs 45–60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis together.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Better than yesterday. Kaizen means continuous improvement: small, repeatable gains, built session by session, until you are back to what you love and no longer need us.
- One team across five London clinics: Soho, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Canary Wharf and Wimbledon Village, plus online appointments.
- Rated 5.0 on Google across 218 reviews.
- Founded in 2022 by David Thomas and Gus Hadonou. You see the same physiotherapist at every visit, so each session builds on the last.
Fees and insurance
Book online through Jane and self-refer, with no GP letter needed. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment and treatment: £155 for a full 45–60 minutes
- Follow-up treatment: £93, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Massage (sports, pregnancy and Swedish): £75 for 30 minutes, £130 for 60 minutes, £160 for 90 minutes
- Lomi Lomi massage: £170 for 90 minutes, £220 for 2 hours
- Performance MOT & Screening: £300 for a 90-minute screen with force-plate testing and a written report
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, WPA and Allianz
Your journey
with Kaizen
Everything starts with a proper assessment. We find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps it fixed, so you finish performing, not just pain-free.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: manual therapy, with acupuncture, shockwave or soft-tissue work where they genuinely help. The first home exercises go with you the same day.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns strength, control and load tolerance, from Reformer Pilates to strength and conditioning. Each follow-up reassesses against your baseline, so progress is measured rather than guessed.
Perform
Criteria-based milestones return you to work, sport and training. Discharge happens by mutual agreement once you can manage independently, with a Performance MOT available to catch the next weak link early.
We specialise in:
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Western medical acupuncture (AACP)
- Physiotherapy-led Reformer Pilates
- Specialist hand therapy and splinting
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendons
- Strength and conditioning for rehabilitation
- Running and gait analysis
- Performance MOT and movement screening
Treatment approach
How do we treat upper limb surgery rehab?
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy leads recovery after shoulder and elbow surgery: protecting the repair in the early weeks, restoring range of movement, then rebuilding strength and control in stages within the limits your surgeon sets.
See treatment detail →Hand Therapy
After wrist and hand surgery, specialist hand therapy covers what general rehab cannot: custom splints, scar and swelling management, and tendon and nerve gliding to restore grip, dexterity and everyday function.
See treatment detail →Strength & Conditioning
Later stages need progressive loading to bring back full strength, overhead capacity and grip, so you can return to lifting, training or your sport with confidence.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
How soon after surgery should I start rehabilitation?
Often within days. After many upper limb operations, gentle guided movement starts early to stop the joint stiffening, while the repair itself stays protected. Hand and wrist rehab can start as soon as the day after surgery. We follow your surgeon's instructions on slings, splints and restricted movements, and build the plan around them.
How long does recovery take after rotator-cuff repair?
Shoulder recovery is slow, because a repaired tendon takes time to heal. Most people wear a sling for several weeks, regain movement over the following months, and need around six months or more before a full return to heavy lifting or overhead sport. We set an honest timeline at your first session and update it as you progress.
Do I need a hand therapist after hand or wrist surgery?
For many hand and wrist operations, yes. A hand therapist makes custom splints, manages scars and swelling, and guides the small, precise movements that protect tendons and nerves while they heal. Our hand therapist works alongside the physiotherapy team, so the same plan continues as you move on to strength work.
Do you work with my surgeon?
Yes. We always rehabilitate within the restrictions your surgeon or consultant sets and, where helpful, keep them updated on your progress. If anything suggests the repair needs checking, such as a sudden loss of strength or movement, or signs of infection, we will refer you straight back to them.
Related What We Treat
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Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance • 111 Charing Cross Road, Soho, London WC2H 0DT
Book OnlineSame or next day appointments usually available