🩺 Before Surgery: How to Prepare

✅ Understand the Procedure

The procedure involves:

• Replacing the humeral head (ball) with a metal component
• Replacing the glenoid socket with a polyethylene or metal-backed implant

You’ll typically stay in hospital for 1–2 nights and begin physiotherapy soon after.

✅ Pre-Surgical Physiotherapy (Prehab)

Prehab helps set you up for a smoother recovery and has been shown to:

• Improve confidence with sling use and post-op exercises
• Reduce early stiffness and pain
• Support faster return to daily activities

Your physio will focus on:

• Gentle shoulder mobility
• Strengthening scapular and postural muscles
• Teaching early rehab exercises
• Advising on sleep, pacing, and home setup

“Pre-operative physiotherapy can shorten hospital stays and improve early functional recovery.” — Moreside et al., 2019

✅ Set Up Your Home Environment

• Prepare a recliner or wedge pillow system for semi-upright sleeping
• Organise transport, meals, and personal care support
• Stock up on essentials—especially items that don’t require lifting or reaching
• Plan to wear a sling full-time for at least 4–6 weeks

🛌 Sleeping After Shoulder Replacement

Getting restful sleep can be a challenge post-op. Try the following:

• Sleep semi-reclined in a chair or propped up in bed (30–45° incline)
• Use a pillow or towel roll under the elbow to support the arm
• Keep the sling on at night unless your surgeon advises otherwise
• Avoid lying flat or on your side for the first several weeks

Tip: Practice your sleeping setup during the day so you’re prepared for night one.

📆 Recovery Timeline: What to Expect Week by Week

Phase	Timeline	Key Goals
Protection	Weeks 0–2	Pain relief, healing, passive range of motion only
Mobilisation	Weeks 3–6	Active-assisted ROM, start scapular control
Functional use	Weeks 6–12	Begin active ROM, resume light daily activities
Strengthening	3–6 months	Progressive resistance, restore function
Return to full activity	6–12 months	Build endurance, sport/task-specific rehab

🏋🏻‍♂️ General Lifting Timeline

Timeline	Lifting Ability
0–6 weeks	No lifting with operated arm
6–12 weeks	Light object handling (cutlery, remote), <1 kg
3–4 months	Gradual return to 1–3 kg (e.g. light bags)
4–6 months	Moderate household loads (~5 kg)
6+ months	Heavier lifting as guided by physio/surgeon

Always check with your surgeon and physiotherapist before increasing load.

🏌🏼‍♀️ Returning to Daily Activities and Sports

Activity	Timeline Estimate
Driving	6–8 weeks
Desk work	2–4 weeks
Light housework	6–12 weeks
Swimming/Golf	4–6 months
Resistance Training	3–5 months
Contact sports	❌ Not recommended

Contact sports are generally avoided due to the high risk of dislocation or implant damage. In rare cases, return to modified low-contact activity may be considered under close supervision.

⚠️ Stiffness After Surgery: Why Early Rehab Matters

Some patients develop limited shoulder motion during recovery. This often results from:

• Pre-existing stiffness
• Prolonged immobilisation
• Pain-avoidance or guarded movement

Early physiotherapy is crucial to help maintain movement, reduce pain, and prevent long-term limitations. A proactive rehab plan is one of the most effective ways to reduce this risk.

⚠️ Nerve Injury: Rare but Important to Know

Nerve irritation after shoulder replacement is uncommon (1–3%), but possible. It may occur from surgical stretch or retraction and most often affects:

• The axillary nerve (numbness/weakness over the shoulder)
• The suprascapular nerve (difficulty lifting arm)
• The radial nerve (rare—wrist/finger weakness)

Most cases resolve over weeks to months with conservative care and physiotherapy. Severe or prolonged symptoms may need specialist review.

🧑‍⚕️ How Physiotherapy Supports Recovery

Physiotherapy is essential at every stage of shoulder replacement recovery. Your physiotherapist will:

• Guide you through each stage of rehab
• Prevent compensations and stiffness
• Restore safe strength and control
• Support return to daily life, work, and sport

We individualise rehab based on your goals and surgeon’s protocol, ensuring the best outcome over the long term.

✅ What Can You Realistically Expect?

• Most patients experience significant pain relief
• Daily activities become easier and more comfortable
• Some residual stiffness or strength limitation is normal
• Long-term implant success depends on surgical technique, rehab, and load management

📞 Ready to Start Your Recovery the Right Way?

Whether you’re planning surgery or navigating recovery, expert guidance helps you move better, faster, and with confidence.
Book an appointment with Melbourne Shoulder Rehab today.

📚 References

Braman, J. P., Flatow, E. L., & Matsen, F. A. (2010). Complications of shoulder arthroplasty. In Rockwood & Matsen’s The Shoulder (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.

Cheung, E. V., Sperling, J. W., & Cofield, R. H. (2008). Postoperative complications of total shoulder arthroplasty. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 16(5), 266–275. https://doi.org/10.5435/00124635-200805000-00005

Garcia, G. H., Taylor, S. A., Mahony, G. T., Craig, E. V., & Dines, D. M. (2017). Return to sports after shoulder arthroplasty: A systematic review. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 26(5), e125–e134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2016.10.010

Moreside, J. M., Cathcart, C. C., & Zylstra, E. (2019). Preoperative physical therapy for elective total joint arthroplasty: Is there evidence of benefit? Physiotherapy Canada, 71(2), 118–124. https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2017-90

Neyton, L., Young, A., Walch, G., & Mole, D. (2019). Stiffness after anatomical shoulder arthroplasty: Is it adhesive capsulitis or something else? Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 28(12), 2334–2341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2019.06.020

Zmistowski, B., Barlow, J. D., Green, A., & Namdari, S. (2020). Postoperative stiffness after shoulder arthroplasty. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 29(6), 1257–1266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2019.10.019