Your shoulder is prone to injury due to its flexibility and many moving parts. Injuries, especially severe ones, may require surgery to repair. Following surgery, it is vital to complete a physical therapy program. You can start your physical therapy as early as the day after surgery, and it may last up to several months.
Shoulder
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of three bones, the humerus, scapula and clavicle, as well as several muscles and ligaments. The ball-and-socket structure allows for a large range of motion in your shoulder. However, it also leaves the joint susceptible to injury. Common shoulder injuries include tendinitis, tears of the rotator cuff muscles surrounding the shoulder, bone fractures, osteoarthritis and shoulder dislocation.
Rehab
Rehabilitation should begin almost immediately following surgery, usually on the following day. At first, exercises will emphasize the movement of your shoulder, wrist and hand. Not only will this begin the rehabilitation of your shoulder, but it will help promote circulation and prevent stiffness in your arm. For the first several weeks post-op, you will complete stretching exercises that will help you regain your full range of motion in your shoulder. Once you have completed this step and your tissue has had time to heal, you can move on to strengthening exercises. These will help rebuild the strength in your shoulder muscles that you had before your operation. Strengthening these muscles can also help prevent future injuries.
Considerations
Make sure your rehabilitation is supervised by a professional physical therapist. Follow your therapist and doctor's instructions regarding the intensity and timeline for your rehab. Depending on the amount of work needed to repair your shoulder, you may need to immobilize the joint for about six weeks except for when you're doing your physical therapy. This will involve keeping your arm in a sling or immobilizer. You should not lift anything with your injured arm until your doctor or physical therapist instructs you to do so. It is a good idea to get others to help with daily activities while you begin to recover.
Prognosis
Recovery time varies, depending on your injury and type of surgery. You should continue your rehab program of daily stretching and strengthening as prescribed. In general, patients who faithfully comply with the therapies and exercises will have the best medical outcome after surgery. Most patients can resume normal activities about six weeks following surgery. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, most patients have regained approximately 80 percent of strength in their shoulder six months out. In addition, UMMC notes that gains in strength continue over a two-year time period.
References
- Performance Orthopedics: Physical Therapy Protocol for Patients Following Shoulder Surgery
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Shoulder and Elbow Program
- University of California San Francisco Medical Center: Recovering from Shoulder Replacement Surgery
- Shouldersurgeon.com: What to Expect After Shoulder Replacement Surgery
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Shoulder Surgery
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