Physiotherapy plays a very central role in the follow-up treatment of a shoulder prosthesis. Those affected must relearn the movements with the shoulder and rebuild muscles. Depending on how long the movement restrictions existed before the operation, the more important is consistent training afterwards. After a shoulder prosthesis, physiotherapy can use various therapeutic approaches to ensure that the patient can once again fully move and put weight on his arm after the rehabilitation phase. Comprehensive information on this can be found in the article: Shoulder TEP
Follow-up treatment/physiotherapy
1 phase Follow-up treatment for a shoulder prosthesis begins on the day of surgery. Since patients are not allowed to put weight on the shoulder in the first weeks after the operation and are not allowed to move freely so that injured muscles and tendons can heal and the prosthesis can grow together with the bone, the physiotherapeutic treatment initially consists of passive exercises. The patient’s arm is moved by the therapist without assistance.
The movement can also be performed by a so-called shoulder motor splint. The aim of these passive movements is to mobilize the shoulder at an early stage in order to promote muscle development and mobility later on. 2 Phase After this first phase, which usually takes place over 10-12 days in the hospital, a 3-4 week rehabilitation measure is scheduled for the patients.
During this whole time, a shoulder splint must be worn outside of the therapeutic measures in order to relieve the joint and promote the healing process. The rehabilitation can be done either outpatient or in a special rehabilitation facility. 3 Phase Once the rehabilitation is finished, the active part of the physiotherapeutic treatment begins.
The aim is to restore full mobility and strength so that there are no more restrictions in everyday life. In order to achieve this goal, the physiotherapist first draws up an individual training plan in cooperation with doctors and patients. Possible therapy approaches of physiotherapy are manual therapy, massages, heat, electrical and cold therapy, stretching and strength exercises with or without equipment as well as movement school.
It is important that the patient is slowly brought back to the load in order not to overload the operated joint. Approximately 6 weeks after the operation, the splint can also be removed in everyday life and the movements in all directions can be trained. In this phase of post-operative treatment, the most important thing is to make the joint mobile again and to get used to movements, especially overhead work.
Proper weight training should only be started about 12 weeks after the operation. Then the patient can start shoulder-friendly sports such as jogging, hiking or cycling again. It is essential for long-term success that the patient continues the exercises learned during physiotherapy at home for several months.
