People undergo shoulder surgeries for many different reasons. Sometimes, in the case of acute injuries like a dislocation or a fracture, shoulder surgery becomes an emergency. In those cases the focus of physical therapy will be on recovery after the fact. Many other surgeries, however, may happen after a period of conservative care and chronic symptoms. Conservative care like physical therapy, anti-inflammatories or injections are often prescribed first to address shoulder pain and injury. In the case where the pain is too great or the shoulder is not functioning well, surgery may be recommended to achieve a better outcome. While there are many types of surgeries for the shoulder, here is a list of common shoulder surgeries that may benefit from a course of prehabilitation:

• Rotator cuff repair
• Shoulder labral repair
• Traditional shoulder replacement
• Impingement surgery
• Acromioclavicular joint repair
• Bicep tendon repair
• Reverse total shoulder replacement
• Fracture stabilization

WHY NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER SURGERY?

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help with shoulder prehab related issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

Shoulder Surgery Prehab

My team of therapists will individualize a prehabilitation program just for you, however, there are many elements that are common across different prehabilitation programs. To help you gain a better understanding of what to expect, here is a list of some common goals for shoulder surgery prehab:

Set expectations: Having an idea of what to expect after the procedure can ease some of your anxiety and help ensure you have what you need to support your recovery. Getting to know your physical therapist before surgery will help build trust with them when it comes time for post-operative care. They can also advise you on any equipment or modifications to your home that might be necessary, help you understand what kind of help or support you will need from others, and prepare you for how your body may feel after surgery.

Manage pain and inflammation: Pain and inflammation are natural results of injuries. They alert us that we need to protect the injured area and that the body is taking steps to start the healing process. Additionally, pain can persist and become chronic. Pain management is always a goal of physical therapy and especially in the case of a delayed surgery, working with a PT to help calm down symptoms can improve your quality of life and comfort while you wait.

Learn how to function with one arm: If you will be leaving the hospital in a cast or sling, learning how to perform some daily tasks with one available arm can be very helpful. Sometimes you don’t realize where you will need assistance until you have tried some of these activities and it is important to have the right support and equipment ahead of time.

Build or maintain strength and flexibility: While the brain knows that surgery is intended to “heal” the injury, the body views the surgical procedure as another injury to the tissues. Though the surgeon may have sewn a torn ligament or repaired your muscle, which will ultimately improve your symptoms and get you moving again, the body will need to heal from the effects of the surgery before that can happen. Maximizing strength and flexibility prior to the surgery can help decrease muscle atrophy and stiffness following the procedure which may ultimately quicken your recovery. Additionally, addressing any impairments in other areas of the body can help you handle the recovery more easily.

Prehabilitation for shoulder surgeries is an excellent choice for those wanting to get a head start on their recovery and to help improve their chances of a good surgical outcome. My team of therapists and I would love to stand by you on both sides of the operating table. Call Evolve Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists today.