Rehabilitation after Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005
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Activities with the operated arm
Comfortable activities with the operated arm are encouraged after
surgery. Your doctor will determine which activites are appropriate for
you at this time.Determining appropriate activities Your doctor will determine which of these activites are appropriate for you at this time:
- Working on your grip by squeezing play putty, foam, or a tennis ball
- Raising your hand to your face to eat and wash
- Writing, keyboarding, sewing, answering the telephone
- Swinging the arm in a relaxed way at your side while walking
Fitness Regular fitness exercise helps keep your joints supple. This
"lubricating" effect is optimized if you perform a half-hour of aerobic
exercise each day. This exercise may take a variety of forms including
brisk walking, jogging, riding a stationary or mobile bicycle, rowing,
climbing stairs, or using a crosscountry skiing simulator. If you have
concerns about your ability to carry out such an exercise program, you
should consult your general physician. It is not important that these
exercises be carried out vigorously; it is only important that in
addition to the stretching program, a half hour of your day be devoted
toward some form of aerobic exercise. Overall conditioning will have a
direct positive effect on the recovery of your shoulder.Driving Driving is not advised after shoulder replacement until two conditions are met:
- it has been at least six weeks after the operation, and
- the shoulder is comfortable enough and strong enough so that when
you are standing you can raise it to the horizontal position straight
out in front of you twenty times.
Using these criteria, you can avoid placing the shoulder,
passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk from a shoulder that
cannot perform under emergency circumstances.
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