open dataset · last reviewed 2026-08-09

The recovery data index

Every measured number behind Steady's recovery timelines, with the study each one came from. Weeks 0 to 104 after surgery, across 15 procedures — each with its own page of full tables. Quote it, chart it, cite it — a link back is all we ask.

Published cohort data. Not medical advice, not a prediction for your body, and not a substitute for your surgeon or clinician.

15
procedures
62
measured pain points
88
milestones
316
cited findings
73
sources

how to read it

  • Pain sits on a 0–10 scale. Typical is the middle of the cohort. The band beside it is not always the spread between people — each row says where it came from, and many are our estimate or a comparison between two things the study measured separately.
  • Of the 62 points here, 54 are printed in the study at that week. 8 are worked out from numbers it does print — a starting value minus a reported fall, or the middle of two groups it reports separately. Each of those shows its sum, so you can redo it. A further 31 points are drawn between two anchors on the timelines; those are our arithmetic and stay off this index.
  • Converted marks a value the source published on another scale (for example 0–100), normalised to 0–10.
  • Coverage is uneven on purpose. Where the literature is silent, the row is missing rather than filled in.

what it is built from

73 sources: 15 prospective cohorts, 13 meta-analyses, 10 retrospective cohorts, 7 retrospective case series, 4 registries, 3 case series, 3 clinical protocols, 3 prospective case series, 3 RCTs, 3 society guidelines, 2 randomized trials, 1 expert consensus statement (Delphi-based agreement), 1 narrative review, 1 protocol review, 1 registry study / retrospective cohort, 1 systematic review, 1 systematic review (GRADE), 1 systematic review / protocol. Each is listed in full at the bottom of this page, and every row on the procedure pages links straight to the study it was read from.

Hip arthroscopy for FAI

hip · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-05

5 measured pain points · 5 milestones · 60 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Hip arthroscopy recovery timeline · claims.json

ACL reconstruction

knee · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-05

1 measured pain point · 5 milestones · 54 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · ACL recovery timeline · claims.json

Knee arthroscopy / meniscus

knee · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-05

4 measured pain points · 5 milestones · 5 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Meniscus surgery recovery timeline · claims.json

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

shoulder · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-05

4 measured pain points · 5 milestones · 9 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Rotator cuff surgery recovery timeline · claims.json

Total knee replacement

knee · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-05

4 measured pain points · 5 milestones · 44 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Knee replacement recovery timeline · claims.json

Total hip replacement

hip · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-08

2 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 39 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Hip replacement recovery timeline · claims.json

Lumbar microdiscectomy

lower_back · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-08

4 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 7 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Microdiscectomy recovery timeline · claims.json

Total shoulder replacement

shoulder · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-08

5 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 9 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Shoulder replacement recovery timeline · claims.json

Shoulder labral / Bankart repair

shoulder · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-08

3 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 8 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Shoulder labral repair recovery timeline · claims.json

Ankle ligament repair (Broström)

ankle · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-08

4 measured pain points · 5 milestones · 7 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Ankle ligament surgery recovery timeline · claims.json

Achilles tendon repair

achilles · confidence high · last reviewed 2026-06-08

9 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 8 cited findings · 3 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Achilles surgery recovery timeline · claims.json

Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)

hip · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-11

7 measured pain points · 7 milestones · 11 cited findings · 7 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · PAO recovery timeline · claims.json

Gluteus medius/minimus (abductor) repair

hip · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-12

5 measured pain points · 9 milestones · 7 cited findings · 9 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Gluteus medius repair recovery timeline · claims.json

Morton's neuroma excision

foot · confidence medium · last reviewed 2026-06-24

2 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 22 cited findings · 5 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Morton's neuroma surgery recovery timeline · claims.json

Lisfranc injury surgery (fixation or fusion)

foot · confidence low · last reviewed 2026-08-09

3 measured pain points · 6 milestones · 26 cited findings · 19 sources

Full tables, studies and citation block → · Lisfranc surgery recovery timeline · claims.json

take the data

Machine-readable, and free to reuse

The same index as JSON, including the scale note behind every point: /recovery-data.json. Reuse it in an article, a chart, a study or a model answer. The one thing we ask is a link back to this page, so the next person can check the sources for themselves.

Building on this, or asking a model to? Use /recovery-data/claims.json instead. It holds the same evidence as 246 separate records — one per question a person actually asks, each with the answer written out in full and the study beside it. It also states where we have found nothing, so an answer has no gap to invent across.

how to cite

Steady. Recovery data index: 62 measured pain points and 88 milestones across 15 orthopaedic procedures. Last reviewed 2026-08-09. https://growsteady.me/recovery-data

sources

The 73 studies behind the index

  1. 2024 ISHA physiotherapy agreement after hip arthroscopy for FAI expert consensus statement (Delphi-based agreement) · reliability 7.5/10
  2. All-inside arthroscopic modified Broström-Gould: 2-year outcomes + rehab protocol retrospective cohort · reliability 7.5/10
  3. Anticipating time taken off work after Bernese PAO (2025, n=242) prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  4. Arthroscopic meniscal surgery in Norway 2010-2020 registry · reliability 9/10
  5. Augmented open hip abductor repair with serial 3/6/12/24-month outcomes (Ebert et al., n=110, 7-10 yr) prospective cohort · reliability 9/10
  6. Daily postoperative pain and opioid use after PAO via automated mobile messaging (Bryan et al. 2020, n=29) prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  7. Danish Hip Arthroscopy Registry: outcome of patients with FAI registry · reliability 9/10
  8. Do Lisfranc ORIFs fail? Long-term conversion to arthrodesis in 8,101 patients at 5 and 10 years retrospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  9. Early outcomes of Lisfranc injuries treated with a suture-button internal brace (case series, n=15) case series · reliability 6/10
  10. Early postoperative pain trajectories after TKA prospective cohort · reliability 9/10
  11. Early recovery after hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome prospective cohort · reliability 8.5/10
  12. Endoscopic gluteus medius repair with selective gluteus maximus release, 6/12-month points (Della Rocca et al. 2022, n=22) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  13. EU-US Meniscus Rehabilitation 2024 Consensus society guideline · reliability 9.5/10
  14. Evidence-based rehabilitation protocol after hip abductor tendon repair: systematic review (Ebert et al. 2022, 17 studies) systematic review / protocol · reliability 8/10
  15. Flexible fixation versus ORIF versus primary arthrodesis for ligamentous Lisfranc injuries: meta-analysis (25 studies) meta-analysis · reliability 8/10
  16. Functional outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation for Lisfranc injuries (n=87, mean 4.9-yr follow-up) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  17. Hardware removal after Lisfranc ORIF: timing and patient-reported outcomes (482 patients, 489 feet) retrospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  18. Henning et al.: open reduction internal fixation versus primary arthrodesis for Lisfranc fracture-dislocations (randomized, n=40) randomized trial · reliability 8/10
  19. High- and low-energy Lisfranc injuries: prospective functional outcomes and return to work at 6 months (n=32) prospective case series · reliability 6/10
  20. Immediate post-operative pain in ACL reconstruction RCT · reliability 7/10
  21. Immobilisation duration after open Achilles repair (prospective cohort, n=1088) prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  22. Kasparek and Schneider, surgical treatment of Morton's neuroma: clinical results after open excision (98 feet, 15.3-yr follow-up), 2013 retrospective cohort · reliability 7.5/10
  23. Ligamentous Lisfranc injuries: hardware removal timing and rate (39 feet, stage II) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  24. Lisfranc sports injuries: review of return-to-training and return-to-competition windows narrative review · reliability 6/10
  25. Low-quality evidence supports surgery for gluteal tendon tears: systematic review with GRADE (Spencer/Fearon, 1,584 patients, 49 studies) systematic review (GRADE) · reliability 9/10
  26. Ly and Coetzee: treatment of primarily ligamentous Lisfranc joint injuries, primary arthrodesis versus ORIF (randomized, n=41) randomized trial · reliability 8/10
  27. Mapping the course to recovery after TKA prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  28. MGH rehabilitation protocol for Broström lateral ankle ligament repair clinical protocol · reliability 7.5/10
  29. MGH rehabilitation protocol for total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty clinical protocol · reliability 7/10
  30. Mid- and long-term consequences after surgically treated Lisfranc injuries (14 followed, mean 8.3 yr) case series · reliability 6/10
  31. Mini-open double-row gluteus medius repair, serial 6/12/24-month outcomes (Quinn et al., n=61) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  32. Modified Broström procedure, open vs arthroscopic: VAS at preop/3/6/12 months (n=51) retrospective cohort · reliability 7/10
  33. MOON ACL reconstruction rehabilitation guidelines society guideline · reliability 9/10
  34. MOON longitudinal prospective ACL reconstruction cohort prospective cohort · reliability 10/10
  35. National PROM registry after primary hip replacement (AOANJRR/ACORN) registry · reliability 9.5/10
  36. NHS Lothian patient protocol: Morton's neuroma excision surgery (recovery timeline) clinical protocol · reliability 7/10
  37. NSAIDs vs opioids after arthroscopic Bankart repair: RCT (n=80, VAS trajectory) RCT · reliability 7/10
  38. Open vs minimally invasive Achilles repair, stratified by immobilization duration prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  39. Outcomes following excision of Morton's interdigital neuroma: prospective cohort (99 patients / 111 feet), Bone and Joint Journal 2016 prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  40. Outcomes of Lisfranc injuries in active-duty service members (n=70, mean 3.5-year follow-up) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  41. Pain after knee arthroscopy subgroup prospective cohort · reliability 7/10
  42. Pain and midfoot function after joint-sparing suture-tape augmented Lisfranc fixation (n=58, mean 16.9-month follow-up) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  43. Pain catastrophizing and early pain after rotator cuff repair (phone follow-up, n=32) prospective case series · reliability 6/10
  44. Pain reduction up to two years after PAO, rest vs activity (Jakobsen et al., Aarhus, pain cohort n=299) prospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  45. PAO activity levels and return to sport: systematic review (J Hip Preserv Surg 2024) meta-analysis · reliability 8/10
  46. PASS achievement after endoscopic hip abductor repair: systematic review (Akhtar et al. 2024, 272 patients, 13 studies) systematic review · reliability 8/10
  47. Patient-reported outcomes of PAO: prospective ANCHOR cohort (Clohisy et al., JBJS 2017, n=391) prospective cohort · reliability 9/10
  48. Physical therapy protocols for arthroscopic Bankart repair (30 protocols) protocol review · reliability 7.5/10
  49. Postoperative complications of percutaneous versus open treatment of Lisfranc injuries (matched, 1,100 per cohort) retrospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  50. Postoperative pain trajectories in THA (PROMIS, n=1,249) retrospective cohort · reliability 8/10
  51. Postoperative recovery patterns following discectomy (CSORN registry) registry · reliability 9/10
  52. Postoperative weight-bearing restrictions and rehabilitation after PAO: systematic review (63 studies) meta-analysis · reliability 9/10
  53. Primary arthrodesis versus open reduction internal fixation for acute Lisfranc injuries: systematic review and meta-analysis (18 studies) meta-analysis · reliability 9/10
  54. Primary arthrodesis versus ORIF for Lisfranc injuries: comparative cohort with rehabilitation protocol (73 patients) retrospective cohort · reliability 7/10
  55. Primary arthrodesis versus ORIF for Lisfranc injuries: meta-analysis of 5 randomized trials (241 patients) meta-analysis · reliability 9/10
  56. Prolonged conservative care vs early surgery in sciatica: 2-year RCT (Peul, BMJ 2008) RCT · reliability 9/10
  57. Recreational activity after open hip abductor repair: return-to-sport timing distribution (Navas et al. 2022) prospective case series · reliability 6/10
  58. Rehabilitation guidelines following PAO: North American Delphi consensus (Disantis et al., IJSPT 2022) society guideline · reliability 9/10
  59. Reichert et al., long-term results of neurectomy through a dorsal approach: VAS 7.04 pre-op to 1.4 (n=41), 2016 retrospective cohort · reliability 7/10
  60. Return to activities after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair meta-analysis · reliability 8/10
  61. Return to play after Achilles rupture: systematic review and meta-analysis (108 studies) meta-analysis · reliability 8.5/10
  62. Return to play after low-energy Lisfranc injury: systematic review and meta-analysis (441 athletes and active-duty personnel) meta-analysis · reliability 8/10
  63. Return to sports and work after TKA meta-analysis · reliability 9/10
  64. Return to work after arthroscopic Bankart repair (prospective cohort) prospective cohort · reliability 7/10
  65. Return to work after lumbar microdiskectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis meta-analysis · reliability 8/10
  66. Return to work following primary THA: systematic review and meta-analysis meta-analysis · reliability 8.5/10
  67. Suture anchor vs transosseous gluteus medius repair: systematic review and meta-analysis (680 patients, 21 studies) meta-analysis · reliability 8/10
  68. The Factors Affecting Pain Pattern after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair (Kim CW, Kim JH, Kim DG, Clin Orthop Surg, 2014) retrospective cohort · reliability 7/10
  69. Time to MCID and PASS after gluteus medius/minimus repair: survival analysis (Vogel et al., median MCID 5.7 mo / PASS 11.0 mo) retrospective case series · reliability 6/10
  70. Trajectory of recovery after the Big 3 shoulder surgeries (anatomic vs reverse VAS 3/6/12mo) prospective cohort · reliability 7.5/10
  71. Treating Morton's neuroma by injection, neurolysis, or neurectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis (35 studies, 2,998 patients), Acta Neurochirurgica 2021 meta-analysis · reliability 9/10
  72. Variations in 1-year trajectories of pain and capability after shoulder arthroplasty (n=755) registry study / retrospective cohort · reliability 7.5/10
  73. Week-by-week postoperative protocol after Lisfranc fixation in athletes (case series, 10 followed) case series · reliability 6/10

The data says what a cohort did. Your own log says what you did — and saves you from re-arguing week six from memory.

Start a recovery log

This index reports published cohort data. It is not medical advice, not a prediction for your body, and not a substitute for your surgeon or clinician. New severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever or chills, a hot swollen calf, chest pain or breathlessness, wound redness or discharge, or new numbness or weakness are reasons to contact your surgical team promptly.

Steady · recovery data index

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