If you’re about to undergo elective shoulder surgery, you’re probably looking for some activities to keep you entertained while you’re a bit physically limited during your weeks- or months-long rehabilitation period. Have no fear, Dr. Holloway and his team have you covered. We’ve consulted with patients and figured out some of the best ways to stay entertained during your rehabilitation period after shoulder surgery. In today’s blog, we spotlight 10 fun things you can do to keep entertained while recovering from shoulder surgery.
Staying Entertained After Shoulder Surgery
What’s entertaining to one person may be boring to another, so there’s no guarantee you’ll be enthralled by this whole list, but we’re confident that you’ll find an activity or two that will keep you entertained and help pass the time during your recovery from shoulder surgery. Some of these activities may even help the rehab process along! Here’s what we recommend:
- Hit Up The Library – Before surgery, head to the library and check out a few books you’ve been meaning to read. If sitting down with a physical book isn’t really your thing, consider an audiobook or two.
- Find A Favorite Podcast – Listening to a new or engaging podcast can help keep you entertained, especially when you’re physically limited. Listening to a podcast can help to pass the time during your physical therapy sessions or while you’re doing strength training exercises at home.
- Challenge Yourself With PT – Speaking of physical therapy, it is likely the single best thing you can do for your shoulder during your rehab period. Stick within your surgeon’s recommendations, but challenge yourself to really attack your PT sessions to make consistent improvement. Not only will it be rewarding, but it can also help to speed up your recovery after surgery.
- Walk With A Friend – Fortunately you can still be pretty mobile after shoulder surgery, and take advantage of this opportunity. Inactivity can beckon more inactivity, so challenge yourself to move during your shoulder recovery period. Ask your spouse, a friend or a family member to go for a walk with you once or twice a week to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
- Game Nights – Schedule game nights with your friends or challenge your spouse and kids to a game night. While Twister may not be an option, there are plenty of other board games you and your family can enjoy even if your arm is in a sling.
- Journal – Start a journal and begin writing about your daily experiences. You can write about your rehab – the ups and downs, the challenges, your accomplishments – or you can simply write about your day. Whatever you choose to write about, odds are it will be beneficial for your mental health, which is an area that can oftentimes be overlooked during recovery from surgery.
- Dive Into A New TV Series – Always wanted to watch Breaking Bad, The Sopranos or Parks & Recreation but never had the time? Dive into a series while you’re recovering from shoulder surgery. Bonus points if you do your PT exercises during the episode!
- Finish A Puzzle – As we noted above, challenging yourself mentally is just as important as challenging yourself physically during recovery from surgery. Engage your brain and challenge your mind by attempting to finish a puzzle while you’re recovering.
- Learn A New Skill – Put that extra time to use by learning a new skill. Jump onto Youtube and learn from masters of their craft about any area of interest. While things like cooking or woodworking may be a little more difficult if you’re down to one good arm during your rehab, soaking up this knowledge can give you a solid foundation to build on once your physical restrictions are lifted.
- Make A Photo Album – If you’ve ever wanted to condense your family photos into more organized photobooks, now is your opportunity. Use popular websites like Shutterfly or Snapfish to help build your new family photobook.
Have your own tip for staying entertained? Send us a message or let us know next time you come in for a consultation. For more tips, or for help with a current shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
