Return to yoga following anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Returning to sport is crucial after joint replacement.
• Knowledge gaps exist regarding yoga participation post-shoulder arthroplasty.
• This study addresses yoga return after primary total shoulder arthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patients' ability to return to yoga after shoulder arthroplasty.
• To analyze secondary outcomes like range of motion (ROM) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
• To compare outcomes between anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of patients undergoing primary aTSA or rTSA (2012-2022).
• Inclusion criterion: minimum 2-year follow-up and pre-arthroplasty yoga participation.
• Collected data on yoga participation, time to return, satisfaction, ROM, and PROs pre- and post-operatively.

Main Results:

• 15 patients (6 aTSA, 9 rTSA) evaluated at a mean of 44 months post-op.
• 60% returned to yoga by 6 months, 100% by 12 months.
• 80% reported improved yoga ability; no significant differences in PROs or ROM between aTSA and rTSA.

Conclusions:

• High return-to-sport rate for yoga practitioners post-shoulder arthroplasty.
• Full return to yoga may take up to one year.
• Most patients experience improved yoga performance, with comparable outcomes between aTSA and rTSA.