Shoulder arthritis is one of the common causes of shoulder pain. Arthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage and articular surfaces of the bones of the shoulder joint. If the arthritis progresses far enough, and conservative treatments does not relieve your symptoms, a surgeon may decide a total shoulder is appropriate. This means they will replace the articulating surfaces of the glenoid fossa and humeral head to allow for pain-free movement. A reverse total shoulder is performed if the rotator cuff has been damaged beyond repair. In a reverse total shoulder the surgeon reverses the shape of the articulating surfaces. The glenoid fossa will now have a rounded shape, and the humeral head will have a more concave (cup) shape. A reverse total shoulder typically has less functional mobility, but allows the patient to perform modified activities of daily living without the pre-surgical pain.
The rehab process for both procedures are similar in the early phases as we try to regain range of motion, address soft tissue issues, and manage pain. As we start to reactivate the surrounding muscles, there will be differences for which muscle groups we focus on between the two procedures to optimize function. Once our patients have met their goals, they are discharged with a home exercise program for continued improvement at home.
