The American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists' Consensus Rehabilitation Guideline for Arthroscopic Anterior Capsulolabral Repair of the Shoulder

Bryce W. Gaunt, Michael A. Shaffer, Eric L. Sauers, Lori A. Michener, George M. McCluskey, Chuck Thigpen

DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2010.3186

SYNOPSIS: This manuscript describes the consensus rehabilitation guideline developed by the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists. The purpose of this guideline is to facilitate clinical decision making during the rehabilitation of patients following arthroscopic anterior capsulolabral repair of the shoulder. This guideline is centered on the principle of the gradual application of stress to the healing capsulolabral repair through appropriate integration of range of motion, strengthening, and shoulder girdle stabilization exercises during rehabilitation and daily activities. Components of this guideline include a 0- to 4-week period of absolute immobilization, a staged recovery of full range of motion over a 3-month period, a strengthening progression beginning at postoperative week 6, and a functional progression for return to athletic or demanding work activities between postoperative months 4 and 6. This document represents the first consensus rehabilitation guideline developed by a multidisciplinary society of international rehabilitation professionals specifically for the postoperative care of patients following arthroscopic anterior capsulolabral repair of the shoulder.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(3):155-168, Epub 5 February 2010. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.3186

KEY WORDS: Bankart repair, capsular plication, postoperative rehabilitation, shoulder instability, therapeutic exercise

This manuscript describes the consensus rehabilitation guideline developed by the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists. The purpose of this guideline is to facilitate clinical decision making during the rehabilitation of patients following arthroscopic anterior capsulolabral repair of the shoulder.

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