What makes a great PT from a surgeon’s perspective? Dr. Hugh House, a veteran orthopedic surgeon who operates across the upper and lower extremity, shares his answer in this candid and insightful episode. Spoiler: It’s not where you went to school or how many techniques you know. It’s how much you care, how clearly you communicate, and how well you teach.

Dr. House shares exactly what he looks for in post-op therapy, what red flags tell him a PT may not be pushing hard enough, and how small changes early in rehab can create big differences in range of motion and long-term outcomes.

He also explains why many surgeries are avoidable with the right lifestyle choices, and how orthopedics needs to evolve beyond the OR toward collaboration with PTs, strength coaches, nutritionists, and even psychologists. We touch on return-to-play protocols for total joints, the science behind early loading after trauma, and how to support patients struggling with weight, motivation, or fear of movement.

If you’re a therapist who wants to understand the surgeon’s mindset, this is one of the most valuable conversations you’ll hear.

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Chris Cole: Live Rad. Die Proud.