Golf after hip or shoulder surgery: when you can play and how to return

Golf is realistic for many people after hip or shoulder surgery, but the timing differs by joint. The published figure for a hip replacement is about three months. For a shoulder replacement, one NHS trust gives six months as a guide, and other timings for shoulder surgery in the sources read here run in a similar range. In all cases the figure is a minimum, not a target, and the surgeon or physiotherapist makes the call.

It is also worth knowing that a golf swing is not one movement. It loads the hips with bending and twisting, and it loads the shoulders with a wide arc, reach and rotation. After a hip operation the swing tests the hip and the lower back. After a shoulder operation it tests the repaired or replaced joint and the muscles around it, which is why shoulder timings are generally longer.

Arthritis UK is the clearest source here. It says dancing or sports like golf or bowls that involve bending or twisting at the hip may be difficult at first, but should be fine after about three months. It also says to take particular care in the first eight to 12 weeks to avoid dislocating the hip, and that some surgeons and therapists suggest avoiding extreme hip movements and activities with a high risk of falling.

The NHS recovery page for hip replacement is less specific about golf but is relevant to the swing. It says not to bend the hip more than 90 degrees, not to bend down to touch your feet or ankles, and not to do exercises involving jumping, sudden turns or a high risk of falling while the hip is recovering. A full swing combines a forward bend with rotation, so those limits matter until the surgeon says the precautions have ended.

The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital says that there are no strict rules about sports after hip replacement unless your surgeon advises otherwise, that hill walking, cycling and horse riding usually present no problem, and that you should wait 3 months before returning to more strenuous activity. It also warns that there is a danger that you can break the bone around the hip replacement or dislocate the hip if you fall badly, which is worth bearing in mind on uneven ground or in wet conditions.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust's shoulder replacement information gives minimum times for functional activities. It lists gentle breaststroke from 6 weeks as a guide, golf after 6 months as a guide only, to be discussed with the surgeon first, and no heavy lifting for at least 6 months or as discussed with the surgical team. It adds that for specific sport you should be guided by your physiotherapist or consultant, and that there is no guarantee you will be able to return to a specific sport or your pre-injury level.

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital says that after a shoulder replacement you will be in a sling and more or less one-handed for daily activities at first, that outpatient physiotherapy normally starts between 3 and 6 weeks, that the shoulder will take approximately 4 to 6 months to significantly improve, and that improvement continues for 12 to 18 months. It says return to previous sport depends on the particular activity, your strength and movement.

For rotator cuff repair, the University Hospital Southampton leaflet describes phases: sling use for up to six weeks, light everyday activity from around the end of that period, strengthening after 12 weeks, and, generally, six months before returning to non-contact sports and 9 months to a year before contact sports. Golf is not named in that leaflet, so it is a question for the physiotherapist, but it falls within the non-contact category.

None of the sources gives a golf-specific programme, so the following is a reading of their general advice rather than a protocol. Start with the least demanding parts of the game and build up. Putting and short chips put little load through the hip or shoulder. A driving range session with a few easy swings is a step on from that, and a full round is a step beyond. Walking a course also counts as exercise, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital says hill walking usually presents no problem after a hip replacement.

Arthritis UK describes regular exercise as helping recovery after hip surgery, and says that walking is fine and so is swimming once the wound has been checked and is healing well. For the shoulder, University Hospital Southampton says swimming is very good for strengthening the shoulder and suggests a gentle, modified stroke at six to eight weeks, building to freestyle after 12 weeks. Those are ways of keeping the joints conditioned before the swing returns.

Pain, a feeling of instability or a catching sensation are reasons to stop and mention it to the physiotherapist. University Hospital Southampton says to be guided by pain when introducing new activities and not to push through sharp pain.

• Ask your surgeon or physiotherapist for clearance before the first swing.

• Begin with putting and chipping before full swings.

• Avoid extreme hip bending or twisting until precautions have been lifted.

• Take extra care on slopes and wet ground, where falls are more likely.

• Stop and seek advice if you have new pain, swelling or a feeling that the joint gives way.

Having both operations does not change the underlying logic, but it makes sequencing more important. Where the two operations were close together, the longer of the two timings is the sensible guide. A golfer recovering from a shoulder replacement may be fit in the hip but not yet cleared for rotation through the shoulders, and the reverse can also apply.

Arthritis UK says how quickly you get back to normal after a hip replacement depends on your age, general health, muscle strength and the condition of your other joints, and Gateshead Health says individuals vary. A joint-by-joint conversation with your team is the way to turn a general figure into a personal one.

Report any new or worsening pain, swelling, redness or warmth around a wound, a fever, or pain or swelling in the leg. Arthritis UK lists these among the signs of infection or a blood clot that should be reported to your GP or hospital, and says pain or swelling in the leg is a reason to seek medical advice straight away.

After a hip replacement, a fall that is followed by pain, an inability to bear weight or a change in the look of the leg needs urgent attention. The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital warns that a bad fall can break the bone around the replacement or dislocate the hip.