Surfing Waves

I have been surfing for a little while and have progressed to where I can stand up on a semi-regular basis. I just found out I need arthroscopic shoulder surgery and will be out of the water for 3-4 months. When I return will I be able to pick up where I left off or will I be back at square one? Also if anyone has had a shoulder surgery any rehab tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

you wont be completely back to square one. youll still be able to paddle and pop up (that is if your shoulder holds up) you just might be a bit rusty. it wont take very long to get back to where you were before. maybe just a couple of sessions. sucks to be out of the water for that long. try and keep the stoke somehow. lots of surfing films!!

one of my friends is a fair weather surfer and spends 6 months+ out the water so i think you should be okay when you return. Certaintly your surfing fitness will be bad but you'll get back quickly

just got out again after a month to 6 weeks of no weekend waves and was back to where i left off again after the second day.
few good long sessions and you should be alright again.... careful of your shoulder tho... don't want to make it worse.

assuming you've asked your doctor about all this?

ive had myself some lovely orthoscopic shoulder surgery as well...its not so bad except for the sleeping propped up bit

as for getting back into surfing..or any sport...or anything else for that matter.....just listen to your physical therapist and do your 'homework' excercises and you will be fine.....it would also be a good idea to mention to your pt that you are concerned about your paddle or pop up or whatever because if you have a good one he/she will be able to give you some more specific excercises to whip those muscles back into shape

also i dont know the type/extent/duration of your injury...but if its something youve had for awhile you may actually find that your performance improves once you are recovered (i had a muy grande tear in the cartilage that i ignored for 3 years, and getting it fixed really helped increase my range of motion and of course stopped it from aching all the damn time!)

good luck with your surgery!

Thanks for the replies and advice. It is much appreciated!

Hey Kansasurf - How long were you out of the water? I have a 'minor' tear of the labrum.

i wasnt living on the coast at the time....but i was in a sling for six weeks followed by several weeks of rehab.....i had real good use of it again after about 8 or 9 weeks....but, i also had a large tear and a congenital defect that i had fixed...so you will probably lay me to shame

Take it easy and slowly step by step when you get into rehab.

At the start of April last year I suffered a bad shoulder dislocation last April that left me with chunks of bone missing. After the straps came off (6 weeks) I told my physiotherapist that I wanted to get back in the water as soon as possible and she gave me shoulder strenghtening exercises to do - which I did religeously to get my strength back up. By mid-July I was back out in 'fun' conditions with a neoprene shoulder support. My timing and balance were fine but my paddling had suffered as I no longer as good a range of motion - but that was solved after a few weeks of surfing.
Good luck with your recovery - dont let it get you down, you'll be back out before you know it.

JohnnyQ wrote:At the start of April last year I suffered a bad shoulder dislocation last April that left me with chunks of bone missing. After the straps came off (6 weeks) I told my physiotherapist that I wanted to get back in the water as soon as possible and she gave me shoulder strenghtening exercises to do - which I did religeously to get my strength back up. By mid-July I was back out in 'fun' conditions with a neoprene shoulder support. My timing and balance were fine but my paddling had suffered as I no longer as good a range of motion - but that was solved after a few weeks of surfing.
Good luck with your recovery - dont let it get you down, you'll be back out before you know it.

Thanks Johnny - I found an ortho who has beens urfing for 40 years and understands surfing related injuries and the 'angst' of not surfing so hopefully I'll be back soon.