Arthritis can affect various parts of the body. One area that is likely to be affected by arthritis is your shoulder joint. This can be very debilitating and can affect your ability to lift heavy objects, exercise, and perform physical labor. One method used at a hospital for special surgery rehabilitation to treat arthritis of the shoulder is shoulder replacement therapy.
Your Recovery
The main goal of shoulder replacement surgery is to eliminate the pain you experience due to arthritis. However, the surgery also has the second purpose of increasing your range of motion. To see the full benefits of shoulder replacement surgery, however, you must also participate in rehab.
Protecting Your Shoulder
After your surgery, you will need to keep the area where they operated on you clean and you must keep the dressing in place. You will be expected to perform exercises while at home that are meant to help you recover from your surgery.
After the surgery, the first priority will be to immobilize the area in which you had surgery performed to speed up your recovery. You will need to wear a sling so that your shoulder won't move and your joints, bones, and tendons are better able to heal. After you have recovered, your main priorities will be to reduce pain and restore motion.
Physical Therapy Exercises
Physical therapy starts off small by moving your arm to make sure that it doesn't become too stiff. When you experience pain, you'll want to not go any further. Make sure to discuss any pain or other symptoms you experience with your doctor.
Increasing the Intensity
After you have healed some more, you will then perform strengthening exercises. This is so that your body is strong enough to support your shoulder as it continues to recover. However, you'll want to avoid internal rotation strengthening for a few months.
It's important to maintain a good posture when performing your physical therapy exercises. Aerobic conditioning is also an important part of your recovery. For example, you might ride a stationary bike.
Going to Surgery Rehab
Ideally, your physical therapy exercises should be performed at a clinic specializing in rehab. Physical therapists can teach you how to perform your exercises correctly and can also make sure you're not doing anything that might lead to your shoulder becoming injured. You must also follow up with your doctor on a regular schedule. Then, you will be more likely to fully recover from your shoulder surgery.
Share31 October 2022
As a child, I used to spend my days roaming through the woods. I climbed trees, smelled the flowers, and laid in the grass looking at the clouds. My love for nature continued through my teen years, but when I turned 23, I began to sneeze whenever I left my home. I could no longer enjoy my outdoor hikes and I started taking antihistamines so I could at least open my windows on warm days. My allergies got worse though and I met with an allergist who completed a variety of skin tests. I started receiving allergy shots and my allergist taught me about natural cleaning processes and sinus rinses. The injections and natural treatments improved my quality of life greatly. Even if you do not want to start allergy injections, you have a variety of options that can lessen your symptoms, and you should learn what these options are.
