Physiotherapy Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a form of rehabilitation that uses graded exercise, stretching, joint and soft tissue techniques, balance and walking training, and education about how to load a healing joint safely. The aim is practical: to get you walking, climbing stairs, lifting, working and playing sport again with confidence.
For many orthopedic problems, physiotherapy is the main treatment rather than an extra. A healing ligament, a repaired fracture or a new knee joint works best when the muscles around it are strong and the joint moves through its full range.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, physiotherapy is provided in-house. The physical therapists work closely with the hospital's orthopedic surgeons, so the rehabilitation plan, the surgeon's limits after an operation and your progress are shared within one team. Treatment combines four main elements:
- Assessment of movement, strength, balance, posture and the way you walk or use the limb
- Exercise therapy, a graded programme that progresses as tissues heal
- Manual therapy, hands-on joint mobilisation and soft tissue techniques to ease pain and stiffness so you can exercise well
- Post-operative and sports rehabilitation, staged programmes that rebuild strength, control and confidence for daily life, work or sport
Who needs it
Physiotherapy helps at several points in orthopedic care:
- After a sprain, ligament tear, tendon problem or muscle injury, alongside sports injury treatment
- After a fracture, once the bone is stable enough, to recover movement lost in a cast or brace, as part of fracture management
- After joint replacement, especially knee replacement, where early movement shapes the final result
- After arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction or shoulder surgery
- For back and neck pain, knee arthritis and frozen shoulder, often as the first treatment tried
Your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist consider the injury or operation, the stage of healing, your pain, your work and your goals. Some people need a short course and a clear home programme; others benefit from supervised sessions over a longer period. Physiotherapy often sits alongside pain relief, bracing, weight management or injections, and for arthritis a structured course usually comes first.
What happens
Your first session is an assessment. The physical therapist asks about the injury or operation, your daily routine and your goals, then examines how the joint moves, how strong the surrounding muscles are, and how you walk, balance or reach. After surgery, the therapist works from your surgeon's instructions on movement limits and how much weight the limb may take.
From this assessment, the therapist agrees goals with you and builds a programme. A typical session combines supervised exercise, manual therapy where it helps, and practice of everyday tasks such as getting up from a chair, climbing stairs or lifting safely. Each session builds on the last, with exercises made harder as strength and control improve.
Early exercises after lower-limb surgery often include ankle pumps to keep blood moving in the legs, tightening the thigh muscle with the knee straight, gentle heel slides to bend the knee, and walking little and often with any aid you have been given.
A specific point after knee replacement: getting the knee fully straight matters as much as bending it. Surgeons usually advise against resting with a pillow under the knee, because the joint can settle into a bent position that makes walking harder later.
For sports rehabilitation, later stages add running, jumping, change of direction and sport-specific drills, so the return to play is gradual and planned. Your orthopedic surgeon reviews progress at follow-up appointments and updates the plan with the physical therapist.
Preparing for it
- Bring your operation note, any scan reports and the surgeon's instructions to your first session.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing that lets the therapist see and move the joint, such as shorts for a knee problem.
- Take your usual pain relief as advised before sessions, so you can move enough to benefit.
- Write down your goals, such as praying comfortably, driving, climbing stairs at home or returning to football.
- Check your insurance first, because many UAE plans need a doctor's referral and pre-approval for physiotherapy.
Afterwards
Recovery depends largely on the home exercises done between sessions. Little and often works better than one long effort. Mild muscle ache after exercise is common and usually settles within a day.
In the UAE heat, exercise indoors or in the cooler early morning and evening hours, and drink water regularly. During Ramadan, many people find that exercising after iftar suits them better; discuss timing with your physical therapist. Desk workers benefit from short movement breaks, while people in manual or driving jobs can ask for exercises that match the demands of their work.
Keep your orthopedic follow-up appointments at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, so the surgeon can confirm healing and advise when to return to work, driving or sport.
Contact the hospital if pain keeps increasing rather than easing, or the joint becomes more swollen or stiff. Go to the nearest emergency department if you have sudden chest pain or breathlessness, or if your calf becomes swollen, hot and painful, as these can signal a blood clot.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover physiotherapy when a doctor refers you, though the number of sessions is often capped and pre-approval is commonly required. Because the physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons work in the same hospital, the referral and the treatment plan can be prepared together. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Is physiotherapy available at Dar Al Kamal Hospital?
Yes. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah provides physiotherapy in-house, and its physical therapists work closely with the orthopedic surgeons. Treatment includes assessment, exercise therapy, manual therapy, and post-operative and sports rehabilitation.
What are the risks and limitations of physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is very safe, and the most common effect is temporary muscle soreness after new or harder exercises. Pushing too hard too soon can irritate a healing tissue, which is why the programme follows your surgeon's limits. Physiotherapy cannot replace surgery when a structure needs repair, and results depend on regular exercise at home.
Do I need a referral for physiotherapy in the UAE?
Many UAE insurance plans require a doctor's referral before they cover physiotherapy, and some also require pre-approval. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, the orthopedic surgeons can provide the referral and pass your diagnosis and movement limits directly to the physical therapist.
When should physiotherapy start after surgery?
Physiotherapy usually starts early after orthopedic surgery, often with simple exercises from the first days, but the exact timing depends on the operation and what the repair can tolerate. Your surgeon states when to start and what to avoid.
What is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is hands-on treatment in which the physical therapist moves a joint or works on muscles and soft tissue to ease pain and stiffness. It is used alongside exercise, to help you move enough to do the exercises that build strength.
Can I do my exercises at home instead?
Home exercises are an essential part of physiotherapy, and some people with minor injuries manage well with a clear home programme and occasional reviews. After major surgery or a complex injury, supervised sessions help the therapist correct technique and progress the exercises safely.
Should exercise hurt?
Exercise during physiotherapy may cause mild discomfort or muscle ache that settles within a day, and this is usually expected. Sharp pain, or pain and swelling that keep increasing, is a reason to stop that exercise and tell your physical therapist or orthopedic clinic.
How does my surgeon follow my progress?
Your orthopedic surgeon reviews your progress at planned follow-up appointments, examining movement, strength and walking and reviewing imaging where needed. Because the physical therapists work closely with the surgeons, progress notes are shared and the plan is updated together.
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