In reverse total shoulder arthroplasty phase 1 rehab (0-6 weeks), external rotation progresses to what angle by 4-6 weeks?

In reverse total shoulder arthroplasty phase 1 rehab (0-6 weeks), external rotation progresses to what angle by 4-6 weeks?

• A. 0-20 degrees x 2 weeks progressed to 45 degrees by 4-6 weeks
• B. 0-40 degrees progressed to 60 degrees by 4-6 weeks
• C. 0-60 degrees progressed to 90 degrees by 4-6 weeks
• D. 0-20 degrees progressed to 25 degrees by 4-6 weeks

Answer: (A)

In the early phase after a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, the goal is to protect the healing tissues while gradually restoring motion. External rotation is intentionally limited early because the posterior structures and the surgical site need time to heal, and moving too far into external rotation too soon can stress the repair and surrounding tissues. By 0-2 weeks, external rotation at the side is kept modest, typically about 0-20 degrees. As healing progresses into the 4-6 week window, the trajectory of rehabilitation allows a gradual increase, with external rotation often reaching around 45 degrees. This level provides enough mobility to support daily activities and functional movements without compromising the prosthesis or healing tissues. Other progressions claiming much larger external rotation by 4-6 weeks would be overly aggressive for phase I rehab, while a much smaller or stagnant increase wouldn’t reflect the typical safe progression. The key idea is a controlled, protective increase from near-zero external rotation to roughly 45 degrees by 4-6 weeks.

In the early phase after a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, the goal is to protect the healing tissues while gradually restoring motion. External rotation is intentionally limited early because the posterior structures and the surgical site need time to heal, and moving too far into external rotation too soon can stress the repair and surrounding tissues.

By 0-2 weeks, external rotation at the side is kept modest, typically about 0-20 degrees. As healing progresses into the 4-6 week window, the trajectory of rehabilitation allows a gradual increase, with external rotation often reaching around 45 degrees. This level provides enough mobility to support daily activities and functional movements without compromising the prosthesis or healing tissues.

Other progressions claiming much larger external rotation by 4-6 weeks would be overly aggressive for phase I rehab, while a much smaller or stagnant increase wouldn’t reflect the typical safe progression. The key idea is a controlled, protective increase from near-zero external rotation to roughly 45 degrees by 4-6 weeks.