When Can I Return to Work After Shoulder Replacement?

This article provides general physiotherapy information for people recovering from surgery. Follow the advice of your own surgeon and rehabilitation team where it differs from general guidance.

Work demands vary enormously

A desk-based role and a manual job involving lifting, pushing or overhead work place very different demands on a healing shoulder. This is why return-to-work advice must be individualised.

Consider both protection and fatigue

Even when the shoulder itself is protected, sleep disruption and post-operative fatigue can affect concentration and tolerance for a full working day. A phased return may be useful.

Build the specific capacity your job needs

Later rehabilitation should progressively restore the movement, strength and endurance required for your actual work tasks rather than stopping once basic daily activities become possible.

A structured rehabilitation programme can make progression clearer

Recovery involves more than one exercise or milestone. The full physiotherapist-written rehabilitation eGuide brings the stages, exercises, progressions and practical recovery guidance together in one structured programme.

View the complete £24.99 shoulder replacement rehabilitation guide

Explore the complete recovery pathway

See the Shoulder Replacement Recovery Resource Hub for related exercises, recovery questions and stage-by-stage rehabilitation information.