Post Shoulder Surgery And Home Physical Therapy

Quality of life after surgery and trauma can limit mobility. However, physical therapists are experts and are specifically trained to restart mobility, strength, and help regain quality of life following surgery.

Surgery for a total shoulder replacement may have you concerned, but with physical therapy, surgery outcomes can be excellent.

Refinement of the Process and Improved Technology

Arthritis is so common, it seems like everyone has a complaint about it affecting some part of their body. When patients have arthritis in their shoulder, thinking of replacement surgery was not really used as a remedy. Because shoulder replacement surgery was initially used to treat severe shoulder fractures, but over the years, refinement of the process and improved technology have now allowed doctors to use the surgery for other painful shoulder conditions, such as arthritis.

There are several forms of arthritis, which include osteoarthritis, normal wear and tear, and multiple forms of rheumatoid arthritis caused by an abnormal inflammatory response. Shoulder arthritis causes pain and stiffness in the joint and reduces range of motion. It is caused when cartilage starts to wear down between the ball and socket of the shoulder. Total shoulder replacement surgery is a surgery that results in placement of a prosthetic implant.

When Should You Start Home Physical Therapy?

So when should you plan on starting your home physical therapy after shoulder surgery? Typically, a patient will start home physical therapy about two to three days after their surgery. It will begin slowly with pendulum swings, elbow and gripping exercises, and work within the pain free range of motion.

Initially, the goal of physical therapy is to decrease pain and inflammation in the shoulder following the surgery and to start early motion of the wrist, hand, elbow and shoulder. During the first month, we will focus on passive range of motion of the shoulder.

Next, begin to work on active range of motion of the shoulder as well as strengthening exercises of the shoulder. The goal of these exercises is to gain range of motion in the shoulder. In doing so, this will allow the patient to begin performing their activities of daily living. We also begin working on strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and muscles that stabilize the scapula or shoulder blade.

Lastly, our goal is to gain motion back in the shoulder in order for the patient to reach overhead and to perform more activities of daily living.

The Importance of Home Physical Therapy Exercise Program

It will be important for the patient to continue and participate with the home exercise program. These exercises may include stretches for the shoulder and strengthening exercises for the shoulder.

The physical therapists will encourage patients to continue with an exercise program after they are discharged from home physical therapy so they can continue to improve their overall mobility and strength of their shoulder in order to return to activities that they enjoyed prior to their shoulder injury.