Recovery timeline: how long does it take to recover?
Choose what you are recovering from and how long ago it happened. You’ll see the typical phases of rehabilitation, what each phase usually involves, and which one you are probably in now.
Leave blank to see the whole timeline.
How to read your timeline
Recovery is set by milestones, not the calendar. The weeks shown are typical ranges from published rehabilitation protocols. You may move faster or slower depending on your age, fitness, the details of your surgery or injury, and how consistently you do your exercises.
Move to the next phase when you can comfortably do what the current phase lists. Don't move on just because the weeks have passed. If you are well behind the typical range, or you have more pain, swelling or redness than expected, check in with your physiotherapist or surgeon.
Sources
- Bernhardt J, et al. Agreed definitions and a shared vision for new standards in stroke recovery research: the Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable. Int J Stroke. 2017;12(5):444–450.
- Goom T, Donnelly G, Brockwell E. Returning to running postnatal — guidelines for medical, health and fitness professionals. 2019.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management (NG59). 2016, updated 2020.
- Thigpen CA, et al. The American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists’ consensus statement on rehabilitation following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(4):521–535.
- NHS. Knee replacement: recovery; and Hip replacement: recovery. nhs.uk.
- Vuurberg G, et al. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ankle sprains: an evidence-based clinical guideline. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(15):956.
- van Melick N, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice update: practice guidelines for anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(24):1506–1515.
This tool is general information, not a diagnosis. It doesn't replace an assessment by your physiotherapist or doctor. Read our medical disclaimer and editorial policy.
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<iframe src="https://prophysio.ai/embed/tools/recovery-timeline/" title="Recovery timeline by Pro Physio" width="100%" height="860" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:13px/1.4 sans-serif;margin:6px 0 0">Recovery timeline by <a href="https://prophysio.ai/tools/recovery-timeline/">Pro Physio physiotherapists</a></p>