Dr. Patrick Denard explains when patients can return to sports after shoulder surgery. Most people resume normal activities by four to six months. For golf specifically: putting at three months, chipping at four, full swing at five to six months, though reverse shoulder replacement patients may progress faster.
What about return to your normal activities like sports, etc.? This really can happen typically around the 4-month point, certainly by the 6-month point. Again, recognize that early on people are doing a lot. They're gradually working themselves up. One of the questions that comes up a lot for people is golf. I typically advise putting at 3 months, chipping at 4 months, full swing at 5 to 6 months. Sometimes that's a little accelerated. For instance, with reverse shoulder replacement, that may be even quicker than that. But I think it's better to count on that longer period and then be able to return earlier than be disappointed with the lack a return because you think you can get back within a couple of months.
