Shoulder arthroplasty includes anatomic total shoulder replacement (TSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). Reverse shoulder replacement is now the most commonly performed shoulder replacement in adults over 70, used for rotator cuff tear arthropathy, severe glenohumeral OA with cuff deficiency, and acute proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients. While shoulder replacement does not directly impair walking, it affects cane use in a specific way: the operated shoulder cannot hold a walking cane for 6-12 weeks post-operatively, which affects patients who use a cane for another condition.
How Shoulder Replacement Affects Cane Use
Patients who regularly use a walking cane (for hip OA, knee replacement, balance disorder, or any other reason) face a specific challenge after shoulder arthroplasty:
- The operated shoulder arm is in a sling post-operatively (typically 4-6 weeks)
- Weight-bearing through the arm (as needed for cane use) is restricted for 6-12 weeks
- The cane cannot be held in the sling arm
- If the patient normally holds the cane in the contralateral hand (which is now the operated arm), they cannot use the cane at all initially
Strategies for Cane-Dependent Patients After Shoulder Replacement
| Scenario | Strategy During Shoulder Recovery |
|---|---|
| Cane normally in non-operated hand (standard case) | Continue cane in same hand; no change needed; avoid weight-bearing through operated shoulder |
| Cane normally in contralateral hand (operated shoulder is cane hand) | Temporarily switch cane to other hand (sub-optimal placement); or use platform crutch on operated side |
| Patient uses cane bilaterally (trekking poles) | Single cane in non-operated hand during sling phase; bilateral poles resume after 6-12 weeks |
| Patient requires bilateral upper limb support | Rollator (wheeled frame) allows weight through forearms without loading the shoulder directly |
Shoulder Replacement Recovery and Progressive Cane Return
After the sling phase (4-6 weeks), the operated shoulder undergoes physiotherapy for range of motion and strengthening. Cane use in the previously operated arm typically resumes at 10-12 weeks, as rotator cuff and deltoid function recovers enough for the compressive and stabilising forces required for cane use. The operating surgeon should be consulted about specific weight-bearing restrictions for the arm.
Explore DaiWalk walking canes. Related: Walking Cane for Shoulder Osteoarthritis | Walking Cane After Wrist Fracture.
