Preoperative Physical Therapy for Right Total Shoulder Replacement

Contact Information

Pre-op Main 6
535 East 70th Street, 6th floor
New York, NY 10021
646.714.6844

HSS Paramus Rehabilitation and Performance
15 E. Midland Avenue, Suite 1A
Paramus, NJ 07652
201.599.8000

HSS Rehabilitation Westchester
1133 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
914.821.9100

Tips for Returning Home After Right Anterior Total Hip Replacement

Below are some general guidelines to assist you as you transition home after surgery. If you have specific questions, please speak to your therapist or call your physician’s office.

Driving

• Please check with your MD regarding instructions on driving.

Hygiene

• You may shower once you are home

Management of swelling

• You may encounter bruising and/or swelling in the operated leg.
• Swelling can be minimized by elevating the right leg when resting in bed.
• Icing may be helpful in managing swelling. Please follow your surgeon's instructions regarding ice application.
• When elevating the leg, the ankle should be above the level of the heart and the knee must be straight:
  
  

Around the house

• Roll up throw rugs and clear any loose wires from phones, computers, TVs, etc from the floor to reduce the risk of tripping and falling.
• Chairs that have arm rests are best to use. Avoid chairs with wheels that may move while you’re trying to sit down or stand up.
• Put nightlights near the bathroom and in hallways to help you walk around safely at night.
• If you have a pet who tends to jump up on you when you come home, it’s a good idea to keep them crated or in a separate room until you can sit down so that they don’t accidentally knock you off balance or get tangled under your feet.

What to eat

• Plan meals ahead of time that are pre-made, heat and serve, or easy to prepare.

What to wear

• Choose loose fitting clothing that is easy to get on and off.
• Wear a pair of slip-on rubber soled shoes for safer ambulation.

Exercise

• Try to walk short distance multiple times a day, increasing the distance/frequency as tolerated.
• Avoid cobblestones/slopes.
• At 2 weeks after surgery, you should be able to walk up to a mile cumulatively in a day.
• You many begin using a stationary bike as soon as tolerated.
• Please check with your MD regarding using the pool after surgery.

Follow-up appointment

• Your first MD follow-up is 4-6 weeks after surgery. Please call your surgeon’s office to make this appointment.

Your doctor will most likely recommend continued physical or occupational therapy (PT or OT) after your discharge from the hospital. There are a few ways to go about that: 

Home(care) PT or OT

A physical or occupational therapist comes to your home a few times each week to provide your therapy, commonly through a certified home care agency.

In this option, the Case Manager who meets with you after surgery will make your home care arrangements through the agency serving your neighborhood. For more information prior to surgery call 212.606.1271. For issues regarding home PT or OT after you’re discharged, call 212.606.1666.

Outpatient PT or OT

Once you’ve gone home, you will travel a few times a week to a therapy facility for all of your rehabilitation appointments. You will need a prescription from your surgeon to receive outpatient PT or OT.

If you don't already have a therapist in mind, you have the option of making your appointments at an HSS outpatient location. You can also contact the HSS Rehabilitation Network, a resource of qualified outpatient therapy facilities recommended by HSS. For more information about the HSS Rehabilitation Network, please call 212.606.1317.