Recovering from Shoulder Surgery: How Physical Therapy Helps Restore Mobility

Shoulder surgery takes place when a person gets an extreme shoulder injury or experiences chronic shoulder pain that fails to respond to non-surgical options. From rotator cuff surgeries to shoulder replacements, surgery is the answer to the problem. 

But this is just the start, as shoulder surgery unavoidably requires postoperative rehabilitation. This rehabilitation aims to restore function, reduce pain, improve range of motion, and enhance strength. Unfortunately, many men and women feel stiff, weak, and sore for weeks and months after surgery, even if they're no longer in pain. 

That's why post-surgical rehab is necessary. You want to return to your normal routine safely. With the proper motions and the right therapist, you can increase shoulder mobility and avoid future issues. 

Reasons You Should Consider Rehab After Shoulder Surgery 

Whether you had surgery for a torn rotator cuff, shoulder replacement, or anything else, the actual procedure affects your shoulder's tendons, muscles, and joints. This limits your ability to move. If you don't get the rehab you require, you may experience a frozen shoulder, pain, and weakness. 

Post-surgical rehabilitation improves functionality and stabilizes your shoulder joint, helping you carry out your daily activities hassle-free. 

Timeline of Shoulder Surgery Rehabilitation 

While everyone heals on their own time, there exists a general timeline of shoulder surgery rehabilitation: 

1. Post-Op (Week 1-4) 

After your surgery, your doctor will protect your shoulder with a sling for recovery. This stage involves pain and swelling, which your therapist can manage with ice. Your therapist may also introduce light and gentle exercises during this phase to prevent stiffness and ease pain.

2. Early Rehabilitation Phase (Week 4 -8)

Early rehabilitation after shoulder surgery may include light mobilization exercises. Your physical therapist may include controlled arm movements and passive exercises to restore your range of motion. However, avoid heavy lifting to prevent damage to your healing tissues. 

3. Strengthening Phase (8-12 weeks) 

During this phase, you should be able to do your exercises without assistance from your therapist. Your exercise program will focus on building your muscle strength and improving coordination and stability. Your therapist may also introduce resistance bands to increase the intensity of your exercises and improve your strength.

4. Return to Normal Activities (3+ months) 

You gradually relearn how to resume activities and habits. Physical therapy at this stage seeks to restore strength, flexibility, and ability to a pre-surgery state. You may also undergo more advanced and intense exercises to ensure full recovery from your shoulder surgery.

How Does Physical Therapy Help with Shoulder Surgery Rehabilitation?

Physical therapy in Merrick is not just an exercise-based program. It consists of other treatment techniques that can help with the following after your shoulder surgery;

1. Managing Pain and Swelling 

Pain and swelling are the most normal results of invasive surgery. During post-surgical rehab, your therapist will focus on reducing these symptoms. They will use ice to reduce swelling, massage therapy to stimulate blood flow, and range-of-motion exercises to limit muscle tightness.

2. Restoring Shoulder Range of Motion 

Your shoulder already limits your range of motion before surgery. Although surgery helps to correct this, due to its invasiveness, you will still experience a limited range of motion. 

Fortunately, range-of-motion exercises can help improve flexibility. Depending on your healing phase, these exercises may be passive, active-assisted, or active.

3. Improving Strength

Rehabilitation can help restore lost strength. You may undergo endurance exercises using light weights or bands. These exercises can help stabilize your shoulder joint and reduce your risk of reinjury.

4. Improved Posture  

Now that your shoulder is recovered, you want to keep it that way. Thus, your therapist will assist you in maintaining proper alignment of the shoulder joint. They will assess your posture and teach you the proper posture for different activities. 

5. Preventing Future Shoulder Injuries 

Now that your shoulder is recovered, you want to keep it that way. Thus, through post-surgical rehabilitation, you learn how to maintain your shoulder strength through consistent exercise and proper lifting techniques. You will also learn how to prevent injuries that may require shoulder surgery in the future.

What Will Occur in Physical Therapy? 

While everyone's rehabilitation after surgery may vary, there are a few elements of rehabilitation that tend to be consistent. Here's what you can expect during a shoulder surgery rehabilitation experience. 

1. Evaluation and treatment planning

Your first session will focus on evaluating your shoulder. Your physical therapist will then define your recovery goals for activity and movement, determining what you will and won't do to ensure you're safely on the road to recovery. They will then craft a tailored treatment plan to suit your needs. 

2. Early Rehabilitation 

The first week and first few sessions are not meant to put stress on healing tissue. Your therapist will bear this in mind and use techniques like passive range of motion, where you don’t have to move your arm yourself. Instead, your physical therapist will move your shoulder.

Your first few treatment sessions may also include ice therapy to combat swelling and ease pain and soft tissue massage to ease tension. 

3. Strengthening Phase 

Once you start feeling better, your therapist will slowly incorporate resistance and strengthening exercises into your treatment plan. These exercises may include isometric and resistance band exercises. The strengthening phase is crucial to regaining control of your shoulder and preventing weakness.

4. Return to Normal Activities

Before returning to normal activities, your therapist will assess your shoulder’s mobility, strength, and function. This treatment stage will also include weight-bearing exercises, stretching routines, and functional training. Your therapist will also develop a home exercise program to help you maintain progress and prevent future injury.

Tips for Successful Recovery after Shoulder Surgery

The following tips can help you make the most of your treatment sessions, ensuring you heal properly;

• Follow your physical therapist's advice: Attend all appointments and follow the entire recommended exercise routine. 
• Learn at-home exercises: learning and consistently doing the at-home routine will help you recover. 
• Don't rush. Your at-home exercise program will be tailored to each stage of your healing process. If the exercises feel strenuous or highly physical, don't do them.  
• Keep Moving: Although you may be tempted to rest your shoulder after your surgery, try to do gentle movements to reduce stiffness and prevent the formation of scar tissue.
• Pay Attention to Posture: you should feel less pain if your shoulder is in its proper posture

Conclusion 

With proper care, recovery from shoulder surgery will have you on your path to proper strength and range of motion before you know it. Post-surgical rehabilitation after shoulder surgery is necessary to prevent discomfort and swelling while regaining range of motion. Should you or someone in your life be undergoing recovery from shoulder surgery, careful postsurgical rehabilitation with an experienced physical therapist will provide an easy and effective journey back to pre-surgical, pain-free, nonfunctional living.