Dr. Laith M. Jazrawi Chief, Division of Sports Medicine Associate Professor Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Rehabilitation Protocol After PosteriorShoulderReconstruc1onwithorwithoutLabralRepair
333 38th St. ▪ New York, NY 10016 ▪ (646) 501 7047 ▪ newyorkortho.com!
Theanatomicconfigura0onoftheshoulderjoint(glenohumeraljoint)iso8encomparedtoagolfballonatee.Thisisbecausethear0cularsurfaceoftheroundhumeralheadisapproximatelyfour0mesgreaterthanthatoftherela0velyatshoulderbladeface(glenoidfossa).1Thestabilityandmovementoftheshoulderiscontrolledbytherotatorcuffmuscles,ligaments,andthecapsulolabralcomplexoftheshoulder(Figure1).Thelabrumisabrocar0lagenousring,whichaDachestothebonyrimoftheglenoidfossa.1Thelabrumdoublesthedepthoftheglenoidfossatohelpprovidestability.Ananalogyincludesaparkedcaronahillsidewithachopblockunderthe0resuchthattheround0reisthehumeralhead,theroadistheglenoidfossaandthechopblockisthelabrum.Theanatomyoftheshoulderallowsforgreatmobility,yetthisanatomicalstructurealsosacrificesstability.Theshoulderisoneofthemostcommonlydislocatedjointsinthebody.Shoulderdisloca0onscanoccurfromtraumaorfromhyper-laxity(gene0coracquiredloosenessofthecapsuleandligaments).Trauma0cposteriorshoulderdisloca0onsmosto8enoccurwhensignificantforceisplacedthroughthearmwhenitisfrontofthebody(Figure2).Whentheshoulderdislocatesposteriorlythecapsule,ligamentsandlabrumo8entear(Figure3).Shoulderdisloca0onso8enleadtorecurrentdisloca0onorsubluxa0on,andposteriorshoulderinstabilityoccurswhenthehumeralheadsubluxesordislocatesposteriorlyontheglenoid.Sportac0vi0esthatleadtoposteriorshouldinstabilityincludeheavybenchpressingandfootballlinemenblocking—againwiththatmechanismofthearmstraightoutinfrontofthechestwithforcebeingappliedthroughthearmtotheshoulder.
Rehabilitation Protocol After PosteriorShoulderReconstruc1onwithorwithoutLabralRepair
333 38th St. ▪ New York, NY 10016 ▪ (646) 501 7047 ▪ newyorkortho.com!
Forsomeathletesposteriorinstabilitycanbetreatednon-opera0velywithrehabilita0on.Thiso8eninvolvesstrengtheningtherotatorcuffandscapularmusclesaswellasimprovingthebody’sneuromuscularreac0ontosuddenchangesofposi0onormovement.Alteringsport-specifictechniquesalsoisusedincombina0onwithrehabilita0on.Whentheseapproachesareunsuccessfulandposteriorinstabilitycon0nues,theathletemaybele8withtheop0onofchangingsportsorhavingsurgery.Surgicalcorrec0onforposteriorinstabilityconsistsofcapsulolabralrepairandaddressingthelabralinjury.Thismaymeandebridingorremovingfrayedpor0onsofthelabrumorrepairingtearswithsuturematerials(Figure4).A8ersurgery,rehabilita0onplaysacrucialroleinmaximizingtheindividual’sfunc0onaloutcome.Intheearlyphasesofrehabilita0ona8ersurgeryitisnecessarytoprotectthesurgicalrepairtoallowhealing.Thisisdonebyallowingthepa0enttoonlymovetheshoulderintocertainrangesofmo0onandwearaslingmostofthe0methattheyarenotdoingrehabilita0onexercises.Therangeofmo0onrestric0onsareoutlinedinPhaseI.Therehabilita0onguidelinesarepresentedinacriterionbasedprogression.General0meframesaregivenforreferencetotheaverage,butindividualpa0entswillprogressatdifferentratesdependingontheirage,associatedinjuries,pre-injuryhealthstatus,rehabilita0oncomplianceandinjuryseverity.Specific0meframes,restric0onsandprecau0onsmayalsobegiventoprotecthealing0ssuesandthesurgicalrepair/reconstruc0on.
Rehabilitation Protocol After PosteriorShoulderReconstruc1onwithorwithoutLabralRepair
333 38th St. ▪ New York, NY 10016 ▪ (646) 501 7047 ▪ newyorkortho.com!
Precautions ! o Sling immobilization at all times (in flexion, abduction and 0° of rotation) except for showering and !
rehab under guidance of PT !
Range of Motion Exercises!
o None for Weeks 0-3!o Weeks 3-6: Passive ROM – restrict motion to 90° of Forward Flexion, 90°
of Abduction , and 45° of internal Rotation !
Therapeutic Exercises!
o Elbow/Wrist/Hand Range of Motion!o Grip Strengthening!o Starting Week 3: Begin passive ROM activities: Codman’s, Anterior Capsule Mobilization !
Other Suggestions!
o Heat/Ice before and after PT sessions !
Precautions o Sling immobilization for comfort only !
Goals o Begin AAROM/AROM !o Goals: 135° of Forward Flexion, 120° of Abduction, Full External Rotation !
Therapeutic Exercises
o Continue with Phase I exercises!o Begin active-assisted exercises – Deltoid/Rotator Cuff Isometrics!o Starting Week 8: Begin resistive exercises for Rotator Cuff/Scapular Stabilizers/Biceps and Triceps (keep all strengthening exercises below the horizontal plane during this phase – utilize exercise arcs that protect the posterior capsule from stress) !
Other Suggestions o Modalities per PT discretion
Phase I (Surgery to 6 weeks after surgery)
Phase II (6 weeks to 12 weeks following surgery)
Rehabilitation Protocol After PosteriorShoulderReconstruc1onwithorwithoutLabralRepair
333 38th St. ▪ New York, NY 10016 ▪ (646) 501 7047 ▪ newyorkortho.com!
Range of Motion o Progress to full AROM without discomfort !
Therapeutic Exercises
o Advance Phase II exercises !o Emphasize Glenohumeral stabilization, External Rotation and
Latissimus eccentrics !o Begin UE ergometer/ endurance ac!
Other Suggestions o Modalities per PT discretion
Range of Motion o Full range of motion without discomfort
Therapeutic Exercises
o Continue with strengthening o Sport/Work specific rehabilitation – plyometric and throwing/racquet
program o Continue with endurance activities o Return to sports at 6 months is approved
Other Suggestions o Modalities per PT discretion
Phase III (12 weeks to 16 weeks following surgery)
Phase IV (4 months to 6 months following surgery)
References
Recommended
