09/10/2026
Joint replacement recovery doesn’t happen all at once - and every patient’s journey is different.
In this video, Southwest Michigan Center for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine’s Dr. Nicholas Loafman, DO, explains the four phases patients typically move through after joint replacement:
1️⃣ Healing - allowing the incision to heal and the initial trauma and inflammation to settle
2️⃣ Motion - rebuilding both passive and active movement in the joint
3️⃣ Strength - regaining control and stability as the joint becomes stronger
4️⃣ Functional movement - returning to everyday activities with greater confidence and less thought about the joint
Surgeons at SWM Ortho provide personalized hip, knee and shoulder replacement care, with comprehensive support and coordinated rehabilitation before, during and after surgery. Learn more about joint replacement surgery at SWM Ortho:
https://swmortho.com/joint-replacement/
Move Better. Live Stronger.