REHABILITATION AFTER THE SHOULDER TENDON ATTACHMENT 

STAGE 1  0-4 WEEKS AFTER THE OPERATION

-   the upper limb must be kept in a sling so that the scarring into place of the attached tendon can begin

-   the sling can be taken off when going for a shower and also a few times a day so that the elbow joint can be stretched. However, all encumbering movements must be avoided

-   during the first few nights it is easier to sleep in a half-sitting position

-   it is good to use anti-inflammatory drugs regularly for a few days, after which the dose can be decreased in stages, depending on the pain

-   during the first few days, cold packs in the area of the operation in spells of 15 minutes ease the pain

-   physiotherapy begins four weeks after the operation and it would be good to book an appointment in advance

STAGE 2  4-6 WEEKS AFTER THE OPERATION

-     check-up visit at the surgery about four weeks after the operation

-     the attachment of the tendon is still in progress and all independent lifting movements of the limb operated on should still be avoided

-     so that the shoulder does not stiffen up, the exercises to start with should be pendulum exercises and movement exercises horizontally, supported by the other arm. Rotation of the forearm is permitted to the so-called neutral position, with the palm forward, but external rotation should still be avoided. Instructions on these can be obtained in conjunction with the visit to the doctor, and you can get individual, more detailed additional instructions from the physiotherapist

-     there will usually be physiotherapist visits 1-2 times a week, but the exercises you do at home by yourself are the foundation of rehabilitation

STAGE 3  6-12 WEEKS AFTER THE OPERATION

• when six weeks have passed since the operation, you can stop using the sling. The physiotherapy visits will continue and now independent, so-called active, motion exercises can be begun step by step without the aid of the other arm
• initially the arm will be stiff and restricted in terms of movement, but with the weeks and with persistent training, the situation will start getting better. In rehabilitation, the main focus is still on stretches of the joint capsule so that the prerequisites for active motions are created. The restoration of the paths of motion is individual and depends e.g. on the extent of the tear operated on
• all motions made with resistance weights should still be avoided

STAGE 4   3-6 MONTHS

-      rehabilitation from corrective tendon surgery often takes a total of 6-12 months

-      after a long period of disuse, muscle strength is weak and three months after the operation gradual, increasing strength exercises can be begun with resistance rubber bands and then with weights. The return to physically encumbering work begins at the earliest at this stage.

Ilkka Moilanen

Surgeon, orthopaedist

Tel. 040 5630938