Physical Therapy in Pearland, TX

What is Orthopedic Physical Therapy?

Orthopedic physical therapy is a specialized type of rehabilitation that focuses on the musculoskeletal system (the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that allow us to move). Unlike a general fitness program, it is designed to treat a specific injury, support post-surgical recovery, or address a musculoskeletal disorder.

Orthopedic physical therapy is individualized, evidence-based clinical care that helps patients recover from conditions such as joint replacements, ligament injuries, stress fractures, and osteoarthritis.

Conditions We Treat

Our physical therapy program addresses a wide range of orthopedic conditions, including:

Post-Surgical Recovery

Post-surgical physical therapy following total knee replacement, total hip replacement, shoulder surgery, arthroscopic procedures, reconstructive surgery, and fracture repair helps improve strength, mobility, and overall recovery. It can also support better functional outcomes and a safer return to daily activities after orthopedic surgery.

Sports Injuries

We treat ACL and meniscus tears, rotator cuff injuries, tennis elbow, Achilles tendon strains, ankle sprains, and overuse injuries. Rehabilitation for active patients is designed to restore not just baseline function but sport-specific strength, agility, and confidence.

Chronic Joint Conditions

We treat osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and shoulder, as well as tendonitis, bursitis, and other degenerative conditions that limit daily movement. PT can reduce pain, improve function, and in some cases delay or reduce the need for more invasive intervention.

Fractures and Trauma

Rehabilitation following fractures of the upper and lower extremities is designed to restore alignment, strength, and range of motion once the bone has healed sufficiently.

Balance and Stability Deficits

After a joint replacement or a long period of limited movement, it’s common to feel unsteady on your feet. Your body’s sense of balance doesn’t bounce back on its own; it needs to be retrained. That’s why we make balance and stability work a central part of recovery, not an afterthought.

Physical Therapy Techniques We Use

Our licensed therapists use evidence-based techniques appropriate to your stage of recovery.

Therapeutic Exercise

We will design an exercise program specifically for your medical condition and level of recovery. As your strength and mobility improve, the program will change. The goal is to recover safely what you have lost, including strength, range of motion, and endurance.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques applied directly to joints and soft tissue to relieve stiffness, increase mobility, and ease pain. Manual therapy is particularly useful early on in post-surgical recovery and for patients with marked joint restriction.

Neuromuscular Re-Education

Neuromuscular re-education involves techniques that retrain communication between the nervous system and the muscles controlling a joint. This is necessary following surgery or injury, when normal movement patterns have been interrupted.

Therapeutic Modalities

When clinically appropriate, our therapists use tools such as ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, and targeted heat and cold application to reduce inflammation, promote tissue healing, and manage pain during rehabilitation sessions.

Functional Movement Training

The last phase of recovery involves taking the progress you’ve made in the clinic and applying it to your daily life. This could mean walking, going up and down stairs, lifting, reaching, and returning to the specific activities that are important to you.

The Physical Therapy Process at Dr. Burke Orthopedics

At your initial visit, our licensed physical therapist will perform a complete evaluation. We will evaluate your range of motion, muscle strength, joint stability, balance, gait patterns, and pain levels. This evaluation, along with Dr. Burke’s surgical and diagnostic records, allows us to develop your individualized treatment plan.

Based on your evaluation findings and recovery goals, your therapist develops a treatment plan. This plan outlines your session frequency, the techniques to be used, short-term milestones, and a projected timeline. No two plans look the same because no two patients are the same.

You work through your program in our facility with direct hands-on guidance from your therapist. Every session is purposeful, and each exercise and technique is there for a specific clinical reason. Your therapist monitors your response to treatment and adjusts the plan as your body progresses.

Your therapist will also periodically evaluate your strength, mobility, and functional performance. These checkpoints ensure you are on the right track in your recovery, and Dr. Burke stays informed of your progress throughout.

In the last phase of therapy, you’ll learn how to confidently transition back to your life. You will be discharged with a home maintenance program to support the gains you’ve made long after formal therapy concludes.

Why Choose Us for Orthopedic Physical Therapy Services in Pearland, TX

Dr. Burke is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds a Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Over 35 years of practice, he has treated more than 148,000 patients and performed over 27,000 procedures.

His thorough approach carries through every aspect of care at this practice, including rehabilitation. Patients don’t have to travel far or wait long. Same-day and next-day appointments are available, and we strive to keep wait times to a minimum. For patients managing recovery alongside work and family, that kind of accessibility matters.