Shoulder surgery, such as for a rotator cuff repair or instability procedure, requires a period of limited arm mobility to protect the healing joint. Restrictions involve avoiding lifting, pulling, or rotating motions with the affected arm, making daily tasks like dressing challenging. Finding the correct bra is important for comfort and independence during recovery. The right garment must not require the patient to elevate the affected arm or reach behind the back, which could compromise the surgical site. Specialized bras designed for limited dexterity help ensure the shoulder remains protected during healing.
Structural Features of Recovery Bras
The defining characteristic of a post-surgical bra is the front-closure design, which eliminates reaching back to fasten traditional clasps. These closures include hook-and-eye fasteners, full-length zippers, or magnetic snaps. Adaptive clothing solutions, such as those featuring large Velcro fasteners, provide maximum ease of use, even with severely restricted movement.
Material selection is important for comfort and skin integrity near surgical incisions. The best options utilize soft, stretchy, and breathable fabrics, such as cotton or spandex blends, that prevent irritation and accommodate post-operative swelling. The bra must be completely wireless, as underwires can pinch or press into sensitive tissue, which is detrimental to healing.
Support should be light to moderate, focusing on distributing weight without adding strain to the shoulder joint. Wide, cushioned shoulder straps are highly recommended because they help disperse pressure across the shoulder and back. Specialized post-surgical or mastectomy bras are excellent choices, as they are engineered for individuals with limited upper body mobility and sensitive skin. These features ensure support comes primarily from the band, managing the weight of the chest without stressing the recovering shoulder.
Techniques for Painless Dressing
The primary principle for putting on a bra after shoulder surgery is to use the unaffected arm for all manipulation, keeping the elbow of the surgical arm close to the body. This minimizes strain on the healing shoulder and avoids reaching, lifting, or rotating the joint. The most commonly recommended method is the “dress the disabled side first” technique.
Secure the front-closure mechanism while the bra is positioned in front of your body or around your waist. Once fastened, gently slide the strap over the affected arm and shoulder first, using the unaffected hand to guide it up the arm.
Use the unaffected hand to bring the remaining portion of the bra around the back of your torso. Once the bra is in place, the unaffected arm can be threaded through its strap. To take the bra off, reverse the process: remove the strap from the unaffected arm first, unfasten the closure, and then gently slide the bra down and off the affected arm, ensuring the affected elbow stays tucked in. Performing this action while sitting down can help maintain stability.
When to Return to Standard Bras
The transition back to wearing a standard, back-closure bra must be guided by your surgeon and physical therapist. The actual return depends on achieving specific functional goals, primarily a significant reduction in pain and the successful achievement of range-of-motion targets.
A back-closure bra requires internal rotation and extension of the shoulder to reach behind the back. Before attempting this, the patient must be cleared to perform these specific actions without pain or strain. When ready to transition, start with pullover sports bras or stretchy wireless garments that can be stepped into and pulled up, minimizing shoulder movement. Returning to a back-clasp bra should only occur when the patient has regained sufficient dexterity and strength in the affected arm to manipulate the clasps comfortably and without risk of re-injury.