Hardware Removal Rehab | Isleworth Pain and Injury

Hardware Removal Rehabilitation (Plates, Screws)

The journey doesn’t end when the plates or screws come out—it’s actually a new beginning. Whether your orthopaedic hardware was removed due to irritation, healing completion, or complications, your body now needs to adjust, relearn, and restore strength without the support of implants. At Isleworth Pain and Injury Clinic, we guide you through a comprehensive rehabilitation process so you don’t just recover—you thrive.

Why Rehabilitation Is Crucial

Removing metal implants like plates, screws, rods, or pins can relieve discomfort or improve function—but the site where the hardware was fixed may still be vulnerable. Without targeted rehab, you could experience:

Joint stiffness or instability
Muscle weakness or loss of control
Reduced range of motion
Pain or abnormal movement patterns
Delayed return to full activity or work

In other words, the hardware is gone, but the healing isn’t over. That’s where we come in.

What Our Rehab Programme Includes

We create personalised, step-by-step recovery plans depending on the area of surgery (e.g., wrist, ankle, shoulder, femur) and the type of hardware removed. Here’s how we typically support your recovery:

Early Phase: Protect & Reintroduce Movement (0–2 Weeks)

Pain and swelling control
Gentle range of motion exercises
Support with safe mobility and daily tasks
Scar and tissue care

Mid Phase: Strength & Stability (2–6 Weeks)

Progressive strengthening of affected muscles
Joint mobilisation and flexibility training
Proprioception and balance re-education
Gait training is required if the lower limb is involved

Final Phase: Functional Restoration (6+ Weeks)

Return-to-sport or work-specific movements
Endurance building
Postural and movement pattern correction
Long-term maintenance planning to prevent reinjury

How We Help At Isleworth Pain And Injury Clinic

Our physiotherapist specialises in post-surgical care and will guide you through safe, progressive exercises tailored to your body and the surgical site. We focus on:

Restoring natural movement
Rebuilding strength
Improving function and confidence

If your body developed compensations while the hardware was in place, chiropractic care can help restore proper spinal and joint alignment, relieving secondary discomfort and improving overall mechanics.