Precautions for Golfers who have had a Shoulder Surgery but are ready to return to the Game

Returning to golf, or any sport, after shoulder surgery is not just about being able to play again, but being able to avoid further injury to your shoulder. Here are some precautions for golfers who have had shoulder surgery but are ready to return to the game.

What determines the timeline

How soon you return to golf will be guided by the type of surgery and how you heal. You will have a period of time when you are in a sling. This is because you need to give your soft tissues time to heal after the surgery.

Patients returning to golf who underwent shoulder surgery may initially experience stiffness as a result of healing. This typically resolves by six months after surgery. The physical therapy program will be directed towards slowly increasing shoulder range of motion. Initially, patients should be careful to limit range of motion to what feels comfortable and stay within the safe zone based on your surgeon's recommendations.

My general guideline

After rotator cuff repair or shoulder replacement:

• Putting is allowed at 8-12 weeks after surgery
• Chipping is allowed at 16 weeks after surgery
• Full swings are allowed 6 months after surgery

Through the recovery and after

Through the recovery process and even afterwards, always do warm-up exercises for the shoulder. Be sure to stretch prior to swinging. Develop the habit of listening to your shoulder — if an activity feels pain free, then the chances are it is not doing you harm.

Dr. Patrick Denard has been voted one of the top 20 Shoulder Surgeons in North America and is the most widely published shoulder specialist in Oregon. Dr. Denard has advanced arthroscopy training and is able to perform the vast majority of shoulder procedures in a minimally invasive fashion, including all types of rotator cuff repairs and instability repair. These techniques allow him to repair tears that some consider "irreparable."