incorporating your arm workout into your routine as well, Ahmed said.
Basic workouts using resistance bands can be a good idea.
“If you can get to the gym and do something, even if it isn’t your normal routine, that’s great. Something is always better than nothing,” Ahmed said.
Controlled movements are best to minimize pain. Riding a stationary bike, for example, elevates the heart rate with low impact. This is an easy workout even if your arm is restricted in a sling. Walking is encouraged after surgery.
Start light when you do return to the gym, Ahmed recommended.
“It’s always a progression, and you never want to hit the weights right away. You should start with light bodyweight exercises, much less than you were doing before surgery, because it’s not about getting strong right away. You must do everything within the same motion parameters because the natural body response is to power through pain, which is how you injure yourself,” he said.
Use pain as your guide when beginning physical activity after surgery, Ahmed suggested.
If something hurts, that should be the upper threshold limit to you.
Avoid suffering through the pain. Gaining motion is more important during the recovery period than strengthening.
Patients often fall into two groups: overcautious, which can cause stiffness and a longer recovery, and aggressive, pushing too far too fast.
Patients with fractures that involve a joint need to use more care because the joint can shift, which may cause the patient to develop arthritis for life.
Patients should ask their surgeons a number of questions, Ahmed said. They should ask about range of motion including, “Is it safe to move or not? Are there any restrictions on movement?” They should ask about weight bearing: “Can I weight bear or not? Can I push, pull or lift items?”
They should also ask if they need to be in the sling constantly or can take it off for a certain amount of time. Also ask about therapy, including when to start and whether you should do basic home exercises.
“I try to make a point to tell patients this information, but it’s important with any type of surgery — not just the extremities — to ask these questions,” Ahmed said.