I’m having a supraspinitus and distal bicep tendon tear repaired on Monday. I’m assuming rehab will be approximately 8-12 weeks. Would it be safe to squat during rehab? How might EMS be beneficial? What type of training protocol would be safe and appropriate post-surgery (during rehab)? Thanks fellas.
You will not be allowed to use your arm actively at least for a couple weeks, more likely 4-6. It really depends on the tear, how they repair it, and what your surgeon thinks the rehab process should be.
Squats are likely out of the question, unless you can do them with one arm (smith press?). BW squats are going to be fine, do what you can that doesn’t hurt your shoulder.
Let your therapist dictate what you do, at least for the first 4 weeks, then the anchors should be scarred, you will begin active things and you can do what you want as long as it doesn’t hurt the shoulder, pain is bad.
The rehab itself is going to last at least 8 weeks, more likely 12. Get your Passive ROM to full ASAP.
Thanks sjake. What about the use of a safety squat bar and/or front squat harness duringmy 8-12 week rehab?
Bobbyt,
I just had total shoulder reconstructive shoulder surgery this December. Go to PT first and formost the surgeon will tell your PT what protocol to follow. Keep the PT going until you are ready for the gym. Right now I can do cleans benches push press and very light snatches. I was back in the gym in about 6 weeks. The only thing I could do in the begining was light pulling and pushing for upper body. For lower I was able to to lunges deadlifts. You might be able to use the safety squat bar. I was not able to squat b/c of the wieght on my shoulder and the external rotation hurt like hell. It took me a total of 2+ months to be able to squat. And I still can go as heavy as I would like but, it keeps getting better. By the way sprinting hard hurt my shoulder in the begining of the rehab so be VERY careful…
Good luck!
Let us know how it goes.
Safety squat bar may help, but I don’t think you will get real heavy even with that, the pressure on your shoulder will cause some pain. I would guess at about 8 weeks you will be able to do some dumbell lunges/step-ups to substitute for squats, careful of that bicep repair though.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
sjake77, thanks again for your time. Surgery was Monday. Supraspinitus tendon was repaired as was the proximal (distal was a mistake on my part) bicep tendon. In addition, the anterior delt had a tear that was dealt with. Incidentally, I had this same shoulder “repaired” in November, 2004. The initial surgery was obviously poorly performed. In addition, the original surgeon noticed the bicep tear and chose not to fix it…you can imagine how pissed off I am at this whole mess. I was told today by my surgeon’s PA that I probably won’t get cleared for upper body work for about six months. What makes things difficult in terms or whats O.K. and whats not is the surgeons lack of familiarity with resistance training. The guy who performed the work on Monday is on staff at both Northwestern University and the University of Chicago and came highly recommended so hopefully things will work out O.K. Would love to hear any additional thoughts.
If anyone cares today I’m two weeks post surgery. Began training clients day after surgery while in sling. Not something I wanted to do but my facility is brand new, yada, yada. Today was my first day back to the gym. Did 30 minutes of intervals on treadmill, three sets of body weight step ups, two sets of safety bar squats, and two sets of reverse leg presses. Kept the humerus tight to the torso during squats and felt zero discomfort. Squat sets were performed at 245 lbs.