Can you play sports after a shoulder joint replacement?

  ChatGPT is a interactive language model developed by OpenAI, that uses a deep learning framework to understand queries and to generate coherent, contextually relevant responses based on a set of books, websites, and texts selected by researchers at OpenAI. While search engines such as Google provide links to websites that may or may not be accurate or relevant, ChatGPT provides a readable synthesis of the information from its comprehensive sources,

We sought ChatGPT responses to questions frequently posed by patients with shoulder arthritis.  These responses cannot used as specific medical advice. Patients should consult medical professionals for the most current and accurate information on their shoulder condition.

We asked "Can you play sports after a shoulder joint replacement?"

ChatGPT replied:

"While it is possible to return to sports and physical activities after shoulder replacement surgery, the feasibility and level of participation can vary depending on several factors, including the individual's overall health, the type of surgery performed, the success of the recovery process, and the specific sport or activity in question. Here are some key points to consider:

Low-impact sports: Engaging in low-impact sports or activities that involve minimal strain on the shoulder joint may be more feasible after shoulder replacement. Examples include activities like swimming, golfing, cycling, or brisk walking. These activities typically involve less stress on the shoulder and can be more easily accommodated after surgery.

Consultation with a surgeon and physical therapist: It is crucial to consult with your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist regarding your desire to return to sports. They can assess your specific situation, review your surgical outcome, evaluate your range of motion, strength, and stability, and provide guidance on when and how to safely resume sports activities.

Individual limitations and risks: Each person's situation is unique, and there may be certain limitations or considerations based on the specific shoulder replacement procedure and individual factors. High-impact or contact sports that involve repetitive overhead motions, heavy lifting, or sudden jarring movements may pose a higher risk of implant loosening, dislocation, or other complications. It's essential to discuss these concerns with your healthcare team.

Rehabilitation and strengthening: Prior to returning to sports, it is essential to complete a comprehensive rehabilitation program and regain sufficient shoulder strength, stability, and range of motion. The rehabilitation process helps improve the functionality of the shoulder joint and minimizes the risk of injury during sports activities.

Individual readiness: The decision to return to sports ultimately depends on your individual readiness, comfort level, and goals. It is important to listen to your body, gradually increase the intensity and duration of activities, and be aware of any signs of discomfort, pain, or instability. It is recommended to start with lower-impact or modified versions of the sport initially and gradually progress as tolerated.

Lifestyle adjustments: Keep in mind that participating in sports after shoulder replacement may require certain adjustments or modifications to your technique or equipment. For example, using proper protective gear, using braces or supports, and modifying movements to reduce stress on the shoulder joint can help minimize the risk of injury.
Always consult with your surgeon and physical therapist to get personalized advice and guidance based on your specific situation. They can assess your shoulder function and provide recommendations tailored to your needs and goals, helping you make informed decisions about returning to sports activities"

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Here are some videos that are of shoulder interest
Shoulder arthritis - what you need to know (see this link).
How to x-ray the shoulder (see this link).
The ream and run procedure (see this link).
The total shoulder arthroplasty (see this link).
The cuff tear arthropathy arthroplasty (see this link).
The reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (see this link).
The smooth and move procedure for irreparable rotator cuff tears (see this link).
Shoulder rehabilitation exercises (see this link)

Sports after arthroplasty

Sports after shoulder arthroplasty: a comparative analysis of hemiarthroplasty and reverse total shoulder replacement

These authors report on the athletic activities of 102 patients having a reverse total shoulder and 71 having a hemiarthroplasty with a standard head component (shown below)

They included patients playing sports preoperatively with minimum 1-year follow-up.

While they concluded that patients undergoing RTSA can return to sports at rates higher than those undergoing HHA, data from the paper indicate that the results were similar:

Comment: As is the case for most retrospective comparison studies, it is not clear why patients wound up in one treatment group or the other. Clearly some unidentified factors led the surgeon and the patient to select a reverse for some of the patients and a hemiarthroplasty for others. It is possible that these unidentified factors may have had a greater influence on the outcome than which procedure was selected.

In the management of individuals with non-pseudoparalytic rotator cuff tear arthropathy and an intact coracoacromial arch who which to remain physically active, we consider the option of a hemiarthroplasty with a cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) prosthesis (see this link). 

In contrast to the prosthesis used in this study, the CTA has an extended humeral articular surface for articulation and stabilization with the undersurface of the coracoacromial arch. By virtue of being unconstrained, the CTA arthroplasty may have a lower risk of fracture or prosthesis failure than a constrained reverse total shoulder in the event of a fall. See this link.

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Consultation for those who live a distance away from Seattle.

Click here to see the new Shoulder Arthritis Book

Click here to see the new Rotator Cuff Book

Use the "Search" box to the right to find other topics of interest to you.

You may be interested in some of our most visited web pages including:shoulder arthritis, total shoulder, ream and run, reverse total shoulder, CTA arthroplasty, and rotator cuff surgery as well as the 'ream and run essentials'

See from which cities our patients come.

See the countries from which our readers come on this post.

Reverse total shoulder - what sports should I do after this surgery?

Outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in a senior athletic population

These authors evaluated 41 reverse total shoulders performed in 40 patients who continued to play both low- and high-impact sports after surgery. The mean age was 73 years, and the mean follow-up period was 43 months, with a minimum of 35 months. 

Ninety-five percent of patients indicated that they were able to return to sports at the same level as before surgery or at a higher level, and only 13% reported increased pain after playing their sport after undergoing an RTSA. The overall complication rate was 7%. One zone of lucency was noted in 17% of humeral stems, with 1 case of early subsidence but no cases with loosening at final follow-up. The glenoid notching rate was 7%, with no cases of glenoid subsidence, lucency, or loosening.

The sports played by these patients are shown below.

Here is a video of a 90+ year old patient of ours playing tennis two and a half years after his right reverse total shoulder.

Comment: There is great potential for return to activities after a reverse total shoulder. What is reasonable for an individual patient needs to be determined on an individual basis by the surgeon and the patient. We need to keep in mind that the appropriateness of higher level activities depend on the technical excellence of the surgery, the quality of the patient's bone, the prior facility of the patient with the sport, and a plan for a gradual return that recognizes the great difference in bone loading with a reverse total shoulder from what the bone experienced prior to this surgery.

See this related post.

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Consultation for those who live a distance away from Seattle.

Check out the new Shoulder Arthritis Book - click here.

Click here to see the new Rotator Cuff Book

Use the "Search" box to the right to find other topics of interest to you.

You may be interested in some of our most visited web pages including:shoulder arthritis, total shoulder, ream and run, reverse total shoulder, CTA arthroplasty, and rotator cuff surgery as well as the 'ream and run essentials'

See from which cities our patients come.

See the countries from which our readers come on this post.

Reverse total shoulder - what about return to sports after surgery?

Patient Activity Levels After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. What Are Patients Doing?

These authors reviewed 76 patients with preoperative sporting activity who had a reverse total shoulder (RTSA) at a minimum of one year follow-up. The average follow-up was 31.6 months (12-65 mons) and average age was 74.84 years (49.9 - 92.6 yrs). Preoperative diagnoses were cuff tear arthropathy (55.2%), osteoarthritis (30.9%), proximal humerus fracture (17.1%), and rheumatoid arthritis (5.2%). 73% of the cohort had undergone prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery.

Average VAS pain scores improved from 6.57 to 0.63 (p<0.001). Average ASES scores improved from 34.30 to 81.45 (p<0.001). 85.5% of patients who participated in sports preoperatively returned to at least one sport following RTSA. Average time to full return to sport was 5.3 months. Walking had the highest direct rate of return (85.7%), followed by fitness sports (81.5%), swimming (66.7%), running (57.1%), cycling (50.0%) and golf (50%). Age less than 70 years had significant improvement in rate of return to sports (p<0.002). 41.1% reported improved physical fitness following RTSA. 88.2% felt their sports outcome was good to excellent and 93.4% felt their surgical outcome was good to excellent. The two most commonly reported reasons for not returning to a sport were pain (13.1%) and lack of interest (9.2%). 

Comment: Patients are often eager to know what activities they should resume after any type of shoulder arthroplasty. We have previously posted on this topic. The results from this new report are interesting. We know that even more than an anatomic shoulder arthroplasty, a reverse total shoulder loads the bones of the shoulder in a new way and is substantially more constrained. What we do not know is how the postoperative levels of activity might relate to the long term durability of the arthroplasty. Time will tell.

Here's a post showing a 90+ year old man playing tennis 2.5 years after a reverse total shoulder.

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Consultation for those who live a distance away from Seattle.

Check out the new Shoulder Arthritis Book - click here.

Click here to see the new Rotator Cuff Book

Use the "Search" box to the right to find other topics of interest to you.

You may be interested in some of our most visited web pages including:shoulder arthritis, total shoulder, ream and run, reverse total shoulder, CTA arthroplasty, and rotator cuff surgery as well as the 'ream and run essentials'

See from which cities our patients come.

See the countries from which our readers come on this post.