I’m 71 and initiated the Starting Strength novice linear progression with a coach last December. On March 1st I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder for the second time. The first surgery was 30 years ago. I don’t relate the need for the second surgery to anything that happened from lifting but more from 50 years of fly fishing casting with my right arm. Additionally 2 weeks ago I underwent CMC joint arthroplasty, carpal tunnel and trigger finger release on my left hand. Most of the reasons for this was overuse and arthritis. Anyway I am anxious to return to the gym but am confused on where to start lifting in relation to where I ended prior to shoulder surgery. I feel like I had maxed out novice gains on the press and bench but probably had more gains to make on the squat and dead lift. When I start lifting again I won’t have a coach so if anyone can offer programming suggestions I would appreciate it. My goal is to build muscle and strength and to stay as fit as possible right up to the finish line. Where ever that may be. Hopefully my quest will keep pushing that finish line farther and farther away. Thanks
Were you referred for any sort of post-operative physical therapy / occupational therapy after these surgeries? Those are important first steps in this situation.
If you have essentially completed that post-op rehab and have been “cleared” for normal activity and training. At that point we would likely manage your training as a beginner again. You may found our material on training beginners, as well as on post-operative knee rehabilitation (recognizing that you didn’t have knee surgery, but many of the principles are similar):