The shoulder is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Learning about the parts of the shoulder and joint will help you to understand your shoulder problem.

During shoulder replacement surgery, all or part of your problem shoulder is replaced with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis.

During your hospital stay, your health care team works to control your pain, get you up and walking, and start you on an exercise program to gently move and strengthen your new shoulder.

To get the most from your new shoulder, you need to take an active role in your recovery.

After shoulder replacement you may also have more strength and movement in your shoulder and arm and be able to return to many of the activities you enjoy—like golf, swimming, bowling, gardening...

If hip pain limits your ability to walk, work, or perform simple activities, you may want to talk to your doctor about a hip replacement.

Treating health and dental problems now may improve healing after a joint replacement. If you’re a smoker, do your best to stop or cut down.

You may be nervous about getting a new hip. But the better prepared you are before surgery, the easier your recovery program is likely to be.

A total hip replacement is major surgery, so don’t be surprised if it takes a few months before you feel really good.

By having a total hip replacement, you’re taking the first step to getting back to an active lifestyle.

The knee is a hingelike joint, formed where the thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap meet. It is supported by muscles and ligaments and lined with cushioning cartilage. Over time, cartilage can wear away and the knee becomes stiff and painful.

You can do a lot now to make your recovery from knee replacement quicker and easier.

Swelling is common after total knee replacement, but there are steps you can take to minimize the amount of swelling you experience.

You can keep your knee healthy by knowing the right moves and avoiding the wrong ones. Some activities may be permanently restricted.

Exercising is the only way to regain your strength and range of motion. With continued exercise, you may gain more strength and range of motion than you had before surgery.