It is critical that you are committed to a vigorous rehabilitation schedule and are willing to pay careful attention to preventing infection. Other factors like type of surgery, your individual risk of bleeding and complications may impact your recovery. If you have damage in multiple joints, your rehabilitation may need to proceed more slowly, or require special equipment. To learn more about therapy for your procedure, please select from the drop down menu below.
SHOULDER REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Physical therapy after shoulder replacement will focus on restoring control, range of motion, strength, and function.37 Physical therapy will be timed to coincide with factor replacement to minimize the risk of bleeding.
Recovery after shoulder surgery can be a long process that depends on a number of issues, including control of bleeding, and the muscle strength and function in your shoulder before surgery. You may wear a sling for a few weeks following surgery; however, this varies from surgeon to surgeon. You may have to wear your sling at night and use a pillow or towel roll to support your arm when lying down to position your shoulder properly. You should avoid weight bearing through your arm (such as pushing up from a chair) and lifting items with your affected arm, until your doctor say it is safe to do so.37
Physical therapy will start in the hospital with isometric exercises, which involve flexing the shoulder muscles without moving the joint, and passive range of motion exercises. Gradually you will progress to active assistive exercises and then to active exercise. These will often be done lying down to make it easier. There may be restrictions on certain shoulder movements or ranges depending on the surgeon.
It is important to consider the effect of surgery on the elbows and wrists. Changes in the shoulder can change the way you move and place more stress on the elbow and wrist during some tasks. These joints should also be considered during physical therapy.
