Shoulder instability

The management of patients affected by shoulder instability is influenced by several factors, such as the presence of associated shoulder injuries (e.g., Bankart lesion, labrum tear, etc.), degree of laxity, reported instability, number of previous dislocations, and the characteristics of the affected patients (e.g.: age, activity level, etc). Conservative treatment typically consists of a period of extensive rehabilitation, which generally yields positive outcomes. In case surgical treatment is deemed necessary (e.g.: high degrees of instability, recurrent dislocation, associated injuries, etc.), many different procedures (e.g.: open capsular shift, labral repair, etc.) are available and always discussed between the patient and the medical-surgical staff. After surgery, a period of immobilisation/protection with the use of a sling is typically recommended and rehabilitation should start as soon as indicated by the medical team. After being thoughtfully visited by one of our specialised doctors, your recovery process will be structured in different stages and take place in four different environments, the pool, the gym, the movement analysis and retraining room and the pitch. In the early stages, the main goals are to restore homeostasis by reducing pain and gradually restoring upper limb functioning. In the mid-stage of rehabilitation, shoulder strength, endurance and stability recovery become the priority, together with the optimisation of the general movement quality to learn how to integrate the shoulder back into activities of daily living and sports. Finally, to complete the recovery process, on-field rehabilitation plays a fundamental role in allowing our patients to safely and effectively return to participate in their favourite activities and sports that require the utilisation of the upper limb (e.g.: throwing-, rackets-, falling-, lifting- related sports), maximising the recovery outcomes and reducing the likelihood of complications.