Rehabilitation Strategies After Shoulder Arthroplasty in Young and Active Patients

Abstract

A well-designed and sensibly progressed rehabilitation program is vital to successful shoulder arthroplasty outcomes. This article describes the protocol suggested by ONS clinicians to treat the growing young, active patient population undergoing anatomic shoulder arthroplasty. This protocol includes an immediate postoperative phase, early strengthening phase, resistance strengthening and proprioception phase, and advanced sport-specific and goal-specific strengthening and proprioception phase. These patients may progress more quickly than older patients and require more challenging exercises aimed at regaining strength and mobility for activity, thus this protocol emphasizes incorporating full-body training to prevent undue stress on the repair on return to activity.

Keywords: Active patient; Anatomic shoulder arthroplasty; Rehabilitation protocol; Shoulder arthritis; Shoulder arthroplasty rehabilitation; Young patient.