Listening Time — 19:04

Total shoulder replacements aren’t nearly as common as knee and hip replacements, but they can be an effective treatment option for patients dealing with osteoarthritis, among other conditions, when more conservative treatments fail.

In this episode of Move Forward Radio, physical therapist Julie Mulcahy, PT, discusses what physical therapy before and after total shoulder replacement looks like.  And we will also talk to one of her patients, Michael Davis, who suffered through shoulder pain for so long that surgery became his only option.  They both also address universal themes such as, what it takes to be a good physical therapy patient and the importance of addressing movement dysfunctions early on, before surgery becomes necessary.

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Julie Mulcahy, PT, MPT, is a physical therapist with 22 years of experience in orthopedics, sports medicine, and women’s health. She is additionally trained in treating the spine and pelvic areas, and functional strength, core stability, yoga, and kinesiotaping. Other areas of expertise include balance training and fall safety education in the geriatric population. A lifelong athlete, marathoner, and triathlete, Julie has a special interest in evaluation and treatment of running-related injuries.

Michael Davis is 59 years old and had total shoulder replacement in January 2015 due to progressive osteoarthritis that began when he was 45 years old.  He had been experiencing difficulty throwing reaching, and driving, but when the pain became so severe he couldn't golf or fly his plane, he decided to do something about it.  He has since returned to all of his activities, and attributes his ongoing pain-free active lifestyle to his successes in physical therapy.