Return to Play After Shoulder Replacement Surgery: What Is Realistic and What Does the Evidence Tell Us

Daniel J Johnson; Christine C Johnson; Lawrence V Gulotta

doi:10.1016/j.csm.2018.06.002

Return to Play After Shoulder Replacement Surgery: What Is Realistic and What Does the Evidence Tell Us

Clin Sports Med. 2018 Oct;37(4):585-592. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2018.06.002. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Authors

Daniel J Johnson¹, Christine C Johnson², Lawrence V Gulotta²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Suite 1350, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: Daniel.johnson@northwestern.edu.
² Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 525 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA.

PMID: 30201172
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2018.06.002

Abstract

This article analyzes the available literature regarding return to sport following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), hemiarthroplasty (HA), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). It examines the quality of the available evidence and areas of future research. Most patients are able to return to preoperative sport activities following TSA, RTSA, and HA. The rates of return for TSA are slightly higher than those reported for HA and RTSA. Patients may be counseled that noncontact, low-demand activities have higher return rates. Most patients can expect to return to sports within 6 months postoperatively.

Keywords: Hemiarthroplasty; Return to play; Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; Shoulder arthroplasty; Total shoulder arthroplasty.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder*
Hemiarthroplasty*
Humans
Return to Sport*
Shoulder Joint / physiopathology
Shoulder Joint / surgery*