What Activities Can I Participate In After Recovery from Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
After undergoing shoulder replacement surgery, it is important to have realistic expectations about the types of activities you may do. Minimal stretching of your new shoulder is recommended throughout your lifetime to maintain your full range of motion.
Driving After Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Your surgeon may give you permission to drive within four weeks after the surgery. If your surgery was on the right side, driving permission may not be given until a month or six weeks following the surgery.
Work Activities After Your Shoulder Replacement
Determining the date you return to work will depend both on your surgeon and the type of work you do. Some individuals may require modifications of their job, while others may easily return to their previous activities. Lifting and pulling job-related activities might be delayed or discouraged. Those engaged in heavy manual labor may have to discuss the possibility of vocational counseling with their surgeon.
Leisure and Sport Activities After Shoulder Replacement
There are different risks associated with certain types of leisure and sport activities. Some activities may lead to damage of your new joint over time due to wear and tear of the joint. In general, the more vigorous the activity, the higher the risk of damaging the implant, increasing the wear and tear on the implant, or increasing the risk of loosening.
Three major categories of activities should be avoided. These include:
- Activities causing high impact stresses on the implant
- Activities with potentially high risk of injury
- Activities that may result in falling or getting tangled with opponents risking dislocation of the joint itself or a fracture of the bone around the implant.
These types of activities include sport activities requiring a vigorous throwing motion of the arm, chopping wood, hammering, heavy lifting or pushing activities, martial arts, and rough contact sports (such as, football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, handball, and volleyball). These activities should be avoided.
Weight lifting activities may be limited throughout your life. During your post-operative period you may be able to build up to lifting weights weighing less than five pounds. Check with your surgeon and physical therapist about lifting any heavier weights.
Lower stress activities such as hiking, walking, biking, golfing, and swimming are excellent forms of exercise for individuals with a shoulder replacement. Some patients also return to playing tennis with a shoulder replacement.
As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can determine whether an orthopaedic implant is an appropriate course of treatment. There are potential risks, and recovery takes time. The performance of the new joint depends on weight, activity level, age and other factors. These need to be discussed with your doctor.
Last Updated: 10/15/2007
