OT: Golf after Shoulder Surgery

[ThePennsyOracle]

I had arthroscopic left shoulder surgery in late February--labrum repair and capsular shift repair with anchors. PT has been going pretty well and I'm about ready to begin strengthening exercises. I go to physical therapy 2x/week.

With the blessing of my PT, I went to the driving range last week and hit a bucket of balls with 52* and 60* wedges. I am a lefty golfer. It went surprisingly well with no pain. In fact, they were the best wedge shots I've hit in a really long time. I took a video to watch my shoulder--I was able to fully extend it and had a completely normal swing (with normal distance too).

My PT said that motion is actually beneficial for loosening up the area. Whether coincidental or not, my range of motion significantly improved (pain free) this week at PT.

I know no two surgeries or people are the same--I'm just looking to hear others' experience. For those of you who have had a similar surgery, my questions are:

- What advice did you get from doctors and therapists about resuming golf?

- As a lefty, my left shoulder is the back/trailing shoulder in my swing. Does this matter as far as getting back into the "swing" of things? (Pun Intended)

- Did the surgery affect your golf game once you were fully recovered?

- How soon were you able to swing & finish a full round, and how long did it take you to be pain free?

 

[LurkerLazarus]

Just do what you body tells you. I have not had this operation, but I've had friends who have. Most of them are having no issues. One of them is careful not to stick the club into the ground hard, as that hurts him, and unfortunately he sucks as a golfer. Sounds like you are coming along fine. If anything hurts, just stop. Do not play thru pain! Took these guys about 7-9 months to get back to their new baselines, but they were in their late 50s.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Just do what you body tells you. I have not had this operation, but I've had friends who have. Most of them are having no issues. One of them is careful not to stick the club into the ground hard, as that hurts him, and unfortunately he sucks as a golfer. Sounds like you are coming along fine. If anything hurts, just stop. Do not play thru pain! Took these guys about 7-9 months to get back to their new baselines, but they were in their late 50s.

Thanks.

The thing I am having difficulty with is being patient. Day to day my shoulder feels totally normal; every now and then I'll instinctively reach for something and I'm momentarily reminded that I'm not 100%.

I was surprised how the driving range went in terms of shoulder feel and distance--figured I'd be hitting my 52* about 52 yards. Overall my activity level is getting close to normal--I've started running again too. My concern is overdoing it and not realizing it. I'm quite a bit younger than your friends and while younger people heal quicker, I also don't want to be stupid and re-injure it.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

I’d just not recommend going into sand traps and working on your explosion shots.....give those a couple of more months down-the-road, just to be safe.

 

[olelion]

I had arthroscopic left shoulder surgery in late February--labrum repair and capsular shift repair with anchors. PT has been going pretty well and I'm about ready to begin strengthening exercises. I go to physical therapy 2x/week.

With the blessing of my PT, I went to the driving range last week and hit a bucket of balls with 52* and 60* wedges. I am a lefty golfer. It went surprisingly well with no pain. In fact, they were the best wedge shots I've hit in a really long time. I took a video to watch my shoulder--I was able to fully extend it and had a completely normal swing (with normal distance too).

My PT said that motion is actually beneficial for loosening up the area. Whether coincidental or not, my range of motion significantly improved (pain free) this week at PT.

I know no two surgeries or people are the same--I'm just looking to hear others' experience. For those of you who have had a similar surgery, my questions are:

- What advice did you get from doctors and therapists about resuming golf?

- As a lefty, my left shoulder is the back/trailing shoulder in my swing. Does this matter as far as getting back into the "swing" of things? (Pun Intended)

- Did the surgery affect your golf game once you were fully recovered?

- How soon were you able to swing & finish a full round, and how long did it take you to be pain free?

I envy you. Two years ago I was arguably playing the best golf of my life. I got hit suddenly with disequilbrium and no longer can play due to my balance issue. My other passionate hobby was the bicycle........that's gone as well.
Hit 'em straight my friend.

 

[MtNittany]

You're fortunate you swing left-handed. Take it slow and you should be fine.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

You're fortunate you swing left-handed. Take it slow and you should be fine.

Fortunate until I try to buy clubs.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

I envy you. Two years ago I was arguably playing the best golf of my life. I got hit suddenly with disequilbrium and no longer can play due to my balance issue. My other passionate hobby was the bicycle........tthat's gone as well.
Hit 'eem straight my friend.

Sorry to hear this—hang in there. My thoughts are with you.

 

[Brownie69]

I had arthroscopic left shoulder surgery in late February--labrum repair and capsular shift repair with anchors. PT has been going pretty well and I'm about ready to begin strengthening exercises. I go to physical therapy 2x/week.

With the blessing of my PT, I went to the driving range last week and hit a bucket of balls with 52* and 60* wedges. I am a lefty golfer. It went surprisingly well with no pain. In fact, they were the best wedge shots I've hit in a really long time. I took a video to watch my shoulder--I was able to fully extend it and had a completely normal swing (with normal distance too).

My PT said that motion is actually beneficial for loosening up the area. Whether coincidental or not, my range of motion significantly improved (pain free) this week at PT.

I know no two surgeries or people are the same--I'm just looking to hear others' experience. For those of you who have had a similar surgery, my questions are:

- What advice did you get from doctors and therapists about resuming golf?

- As a lefty, my left shoulder is the back/trailing shoulder in my swing. Does this matter as far as getting back into the "swing" of things? (Pun Intended)

- Did the surgery affect your golf game once you were fully recovered?

- How soon were you able to swing & finish a full round, and how long did it take you to be pain free?

 

[mjh218]

I tore my posterior labrum on my right arm playing soccer. Two surgeries to repair it over about 3 year. First one didn’t work. Second one did. My biggest issue is my body guarding my shoulder. Its the back part of my right shoulder so the hard part is the full follow through. If I get tired I stop following through as much as I should.

Anyhow, to be honest, it hasn’t hurt or helped my golf game. Was a 13before and still around there! I initially lost some distance due to strength issues. But now I’m hitting the ball further than I did before my surgery.

Should add I had the second surgery in May 15 and was playing golf In December. But I was cleared by the doctor

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

I envy you. Two years ago I was arguably playing the best golf of my life. I got hit suddenly with disequilbrium and no longer can play due to my balance issue. My other passionate hobby was the bicycle........that's gone as well.
Hit 'em straight my friend.

Have you considered a Trike?

 

[91Joe95]

Have you considered a Trike?

Or a big wheels.

 

[Aardvark86]

No surgery for me but frozen shoulder. I found that it slows you down. Which is of course good.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

No surgery for me but frozen shoulder. I found that it slows you down. Which is of course good.

I had a frozen shoulder about three years ago, had about six months of therapy to get it back to about 95%.

Doc repeatedly said it had nothing to do with all the frozen shoulders women had given me over the years.

 

[olelion]

Have you considered a Trike?

I have but I'm going to wait until further diagnosis/treatment. I'm scheduled for the University of Colorado Center for Balance disorders in July and have some testing prior to that visit. Also doing as much therapy as I can. As much as I tend to feel sorry for myself, I have improved since the outset. I started in a wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane and now pretty much on my own with limitations. I just want get back to things I really enjoy.

 

[psu_1989]

A few years ago I had a SLAP tear. Doctor performed a bicep tenodisis, whereby long head of the bicep is screwed into upper arm. Sling for a month (though PT during that time). Bicep healed fine in those 30 days, but issue was frozen shoulder. It took about 6 weeks of PT post sling for me to be at 90-95%. I too did a lot of chip shots. I held off on longer irons and woods for about 4 weeks. You seem to be mirroring my recovery, which I was told was good/very good. I also threw a light weight ball against a pitch back to work on a full range of motion. Luckily since a golf swing is below the shoulder (as opposed to throwing, shooting a basketball, lifting, tennis) it does not really stress the muscles and tendons like other sports.

Sounds like all is going well. Keep pushing yourself somewhat, though too much can cause problems. You’ll be put on the links in no time and be pain free,

 

[PSUeng]

A few years ago I had a SLAP tear. Doctor performed a bicep tenodisis, whereby long head of the bicep is screwed into upper arm. Sling for a month (though PT during that time). Bicep healed fine in those 30 days, but issue was frozen shoulder. It took about 6 weeks of PT post sling for me to be at 90-95%. I too did a lot of chip shots. I held off on longer irons and woods for about 4 weeks. You seem to be mirroring my recovery, which I was told was good/very good. I also threw a light weight ball against a pitch back to work on a full range of motion. Luckily since a golf swing is below the shoulder (as opposed to throwing, shooting a basketball, lifting, tennis) it does not really stress the muscles and tendons like other sports.

Sounds like all is going well. Keep pushing yourself somewhat, though too much can cause problems. You’ll be put on the links in no time and be pain free,

I also had a slap tear repaired. I planned it for October and by the time golf season came around in May I was good to go. I did loss a little swing speed, like a club in distance. by the end of the season, it was back. but like 1989 said it is a under shoulder motion and not that affected. Just make sure you did all the pt. good luck

 

[UncleLar]

I’d just not recommend going into sand traps and working on your explosion shots.....give those a couple of more months down-the-road, just to be safe.

I would have thought the exact opposite. Hitting a fat shot in sand ought to be a lot more forgiving than hitting a fat shot on the ground. If your sand shots end with your club buried in the sand, you're doing it all wrong.

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

I have but I'm going to wait until further diagnosis/treatment. I'm scheduled for the University of Colorado Center for Balance disorders in July and have some testing prior to that visit. Also doing as much therapy as I can. As much as I tend to feel sorry for myself, I have improved since the outset. I started in a wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane and now pretty much on my own with limitations. I just want get back to things I really enjoy.

Wow, OLE, thanks for being so comfortable to share. You must have a huge passion for golf! Your condition would put most “snowflakes” on their ass forever. My situation is nowhere near yours but I am coming off rotator cuff surgery (in mid-September 2017) and played my first real round of golf just last Sunday.

My advice is to find a “Titleist Performance Center” approved physical therapist in your area and work with them on balancing your range of motion issues with your golf swing ambitions. I love the group that I work with here in The ‘Burgh. Best of luck to you ‘bro!

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

A few years ago I had a SLAP tear. Doctor performed a bicep tenodisis, whereby long head of the bicep is screwed into upper arm. Sling for a month (though PT during that time). Bicep healed fine in those 30 days, but issue was frozen shoulder. It took about 6 weeks of PT post sling for me to be at 90-95%. I too did a lot of chip shots. I held off on longer irons and woods for about 4 weeks. You seem to be mirroring my recovery, which I was told was good/very good. I also threw a light weight ball against a pitch back to work on a full range of motion. Luckily since a golf swing is below the shoulder (as opposed to throwing, shooting a basketball, lifting, tennis) it does not really stress the muscles and tendons like other sports.

Sounds like all is going well. Keep pushing yourself somewhat, though too much can cause problems. You’ll be put on the links in no time and be pain free,

Thanks for sharing! Luckily I escaped bicep damage with this injury. I’m fairly impatient and want to be out there on a sunny 70 degree day. My goal for next week is 8-9 irons (and hopefully I can sneak in a few shots with a 7).

 

[BobPSU92]

I had arthroscopic left shoulder surgery in late February--labrum repair and capsular shift repair with anchors. PT has been going pretty well and I'm about ready to begin strengthening exercises. I go to physical therapy 2x/week.

With the blessing of my PT, I went to the driving range last week and hit a bucket of balls with 52* and 60* wedges. I am a lefty golfer. It went surprisingly well with no pain. In fact, they were the best wedge shots I've hit in a really long time. I took a video to watch my shoulder--I was able to fully extend it and had a completely normal swing (with normal distance too).

My PT said that motion is actually beneficial for loosening up the area. Whether coincidental or not, my range of motion significantly improved (pain free) this week at PT.

I know no two surgeries or people are the same--I'm just looking to hear others' experience. For those of you who have had a similar surgery, my questions are:

- What advice did you get from doctors and therapists about resuming golf?

- As a lefty, my left shoulder is the back/trailing shoulder in my swing. Does this matter as far as getting back into the "swing" of things? (Pun Intended)

- Did the surgery affect your golf game once you were fully recovered?

- How soon were you able to swing & finish a full round, and how long did it take you to be pain free?

Take plenty of time to let your body heal while pondering how Penn State University completely f*cked over Joe Paterno.

409.

 

[LurkerLazarus]

Joe will get the last laugh. Hopefully all involved in his knifing eventually get completely frozen shoulders, so they won't be able to pat themselves on the back.

 

[Aardvark86]

Joe will get the last laugh. Hopefully all involved in his knifing eventually get completely frozen shoulders, so they won't be able to pat themselves on the back.

An inside joke that the frozen shoulder crowd definitely gets.