open dataset · last reviewed 2026-06-08
Total shoulder replacement recovery data
Every measured number behind the Shoulder replacement recovery timeline, with the study each one came from. shoulder · confidence high · 1 interpolated point not listed. Part of the recovery data index. Quote it, chart it, cite it — a link back is all we ask.
Published cohort data. Not medical advice, not a prediction for your body, and not a substitute for your surgeon or clinician.
Measured pain by week
| Week | Typical pain | Band | Scale | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6 /10 | 4–7.6printed in the paper | converted to 0–10 | study |
| 2 | 2 /10 | 1–4.1printed in the paper | converted to 0–10 | study |
| 6 | 1.1 /10 | 0–3printed in the paper | converted to 0–10 | study |
| 13 | 1 /10 | 0–2.6our estimate — the paper prints no range — The paper's own printed IQR at 3 months is 0 to 2.2, not 0 to 2.6 shown here. The anatomic/reverse subgroup numbers this was built from do not appear anywhere in the paper. | converted to 0–10 | study |
| 52 | 0 /10 | 0–1.2our estimate — the paper prints no range — The paper's own printed IQR at 12 months is 0 to 1.0, not 0 to 1.2 shown here. The anatomic/reverse subgroup numbers this was built from do not appear anywhere in the paper. | converted to 0–10 | study |
Documented milestones
| Week | Milestone | Reported range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Sling worn continuously (elbow/wrist/hand movement allowed) | First 4-6 weeks; up to 6+ weeks for reverse TSA or with a tendon transfer / subscapularis repair | study |
| 5 | Active-assisted range of motion / sling weaning starts | About 4-6 weeks; sling weaned during the day over ~2 weeks | study |
| 6 | Sling discontinued / sleep without sling | About 6 weeks; reverse TSA may extend with poor tissue quality or tendon transfer | study |
| 9 | Return to light activity / household & light work | About 9-12 weeks; no lifting heavier than ~10 lb until strengthening; manual labor much later | study |
| 12 | Strengthening / overhead reach phase begins | Around 12 weeks; full ROM and strengthening expected by week 12 | study |
| 26 | Return to recreational activity / sport (physician-cleared) | About 4-6+ months, individualized; full recovery generally 9-12 months | study |
take this
Cite Total shoulder replacementone line, ready to paste
Steady. Total shoulder replacement recovery data: 5 measured pain points and 6 milestones, from 3 cited sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-08. https://growsteady.me/recovery-data/shoulder-arthroplasty
Embed the Total shoulder replacement chartfree to use on your own site, with the credit line kept
The image is drawn from the table above and redraws whenever the data is reviewed, so an embedded copy never goes stale. Open the image →
<figure>
<img src="https://growsteady.me/recovery-data/shoulder-arthroplasty/curve.png" alt="Typical pain by week after Total shoulder replacement, from published studies" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" />
<figcaption>
Pain band after Total shoulder replacement, from
<a href="https://growsteady.me/recovery-data/shoulder-arthroplasty">the Steady recovery data index</a>.
</figcaption>
</figure>every paper cited here (7)
- Variations in 1-year trajectories of pain and capability after shoulder arthroplasty (n=755)registry study / retrospective cohort · backs 5 pain, 2 card
- MGH rehabilitation protocol for total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplastyclinical protocol · backs 2 milestone, 2 card
- brighamandwomens.orgnot yet reviewed · backs 2 milestone, 1 card
- summitortho.comnot yet reviewed · backs 2 milestone, 1 card
- PMC11965055not yet reviewed · backs 2 card
- PMID 40769237not yet reviewed · backs 1 pain, 1 card
- Trajectory of recovery after the Big 3 shoulder surgeries (anatomic vs reverse VAS 3/6/12mo)prospective cohort · cited by nothing on this page
take the data
This procedure's records as JSON — one per question a person actually asks, each with the answer written out in full and the study beside it: /recovery-data/shoulder-arthroplasty/claims.json. The whole dataset lives on the recovery data index.
The data says what a cohort did. Your own log says what you did — and saves you from re-arguing week six from memory.
Start a recovery logThis page reports published cohort data. It is not medical advice, not a prediction for your body, and not a substitute for your surgeon or clinician. New severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever or chills, a hot swollen calf, chest pain or breathlessness, wound redness or discharge, or new numbness or weakness are reasons to contact your surgical team promptly.