Post-Surgical Upper Extremity and Shoulder Rehabilitation in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City's physical therapy clinic helping you recover from shoulder surgery as quickly as possible with specialized treatment from experts in upper extremity injuries.
Restore Function
Get back to lifting, reaching, throwing, and daily life, without compensating.
Rebuild Strength
Measured, progressive loading on the Humero Tech C1® rebuilds true repair-ready strength.
Regain Motion
Safely restore full range of motion in every plane your surgeon cleared.
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 is our specialty. Our Doctors of Physical Therapy focus on shoulder and elbow recovery, and we built the Humero Tech C1®, a one-of-a-kind shoulder rehab device you won't find anywhere else in Utah. The result: personalized recoveries, measurable strength gains, and a confident return to the life you had before 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.
- Prevents scar tissue and frozen shoulder
- Reduces the risk of re-tear and re-injury
- Restores full range of motion safely
- Rebuilds strength your surgeon can't
- Cuts dependence on long-term pain medication
- Gets you back to work, sport, and life faster
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
- Capsular release (frozen shoulder)
- Pectoralis major repair
Elbow Surgeries
- Tommy John / UCL reconstruction
- Distal biceps tendon repair
- Elbow arthroscopy
- Cubital tunnel release
- Lateral / medial epicondyle debridement
Had a joint replaced? See our dedicated shoulder replacement physical therapy page. Don't see your procedure? We've likely treated it. Call (385) 462-1232 to confirm.
The safer way to rebuild a post-surgical shoulder.
After rotator cuff, labral, or shoulder replacement surgery, the biggest risk is loading the repair too much, or not enough. The Humero Tech C1®, designed and built for post-operative patients in Salt Lake City, applies precise, measurable resistance in every plane of motion so we can progress your repair with what it can handle safely, on your surgeon's protocol, with zero guesswork.
- Loads the repair safely in every plane your surgeon clears
- Objective strength & ROM data your surgeon can review at follow-ups
- Confirms you've actually hit return-to-activity benchmarks, not just the calendar
- The only device of its kind in Utah, built by post-op shoulder specialists
When should you start rehab?
The earlier you start the right rehab, the better your outcome. Most surgeons want their patients in physical therapy within the first 1-2 weeks post-op.
Before surgery (prehab)
Pre-op strengthening can dramatically shorten recovery time.
Week 1-2 post-op
Begin protected motion to prevent scar tissue and frozen shoulder.
Week 6-12
Progressive loading on the Humero Tech C1® to rebuild true strength.
Month 4+
Sport- and job-specific return-to-performance training.
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
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.
Once your repair is healed and you are chasing performance again, our sports medicine physical therapy and strength testing take it from there. New to the clinic? See what to expect at your first visit.