rush university med center
Midwest Orthopaedics Sports

Discharge Instructions & Physical Therapy Instructions for Arthroscopic Anterior Stabilization

Initial recovery after shoulder surgery entails healing, controlling swelling and discomfort and regaining some shoulder motion. The following instructions are intended as a guide to help you achieve these goals until your 1 st postoperative visit.

Comfort

Although surgery uses only a few small incisions around the shoulder joint, swelling and discomfort can be present. To minimize discomfort, please do the following

  • Ice -Ice controls swelling and discomfort by slowing down the circulation in your shoulder. Place crushed ice in plastic bag over your shoulder for no more than 20 minutes, 3 times a day
  • Pain Medication -Take medications as prescribed, but only as often as necessary. Avoid alcohol and driving if you are taking pain medication
  • Antibiotic Medication - If an antibiotic has been prescribed, start taking the day of your surgery. The first dose should be around dinnertime. Continue taking until the prescription is finished
  • Sling - A sling has been provided for your comfort and to stabilize your shoulder for proper healing. Continue wearing the sling for a period of approximately six weeks or until Dr. Forsythe directs you to stop
  • Driving - Driving is NOT permitted as long as the sling is necessary

Activities

  • You are immobilized with a sling and abductor pillow, full time, for approximately the first 6 weeks. Your doctor can tell you when you can discontinue use of the sling at your 1 st postoperative visit. The sling may be removed for exercises
  • Your sling may be removed for gentle PASSIVE range-of-motion (PROM) exercises. (SOMEONE ELSE MOVES YOUR SHOULDER). This should be done 3x a day /15 repetitions (ABDUCTION ONLY - away from your body)
  • Active range-of motion (AROM - you move your shoulder) should be performed for shoulder internal/external rotation. Keep elbow positioned at the side and flexed at 90 ° so forearm is parallel to the floor. This should be done within a comfortable range until you feel slight pain (3x a day for 15 repetitions). You can shrug your shoulders
  • While your sling is off you should flex and extend your elbow and wrist - (3x a day for 15 repetitions) to avoid elbow stiffness
  • Ball squeezes should be done in the sling (3x a day for 15 squeezes)
  • You may NOT move your shoulder by yourself in certain directions. NO active flexion (lifting arm up) or abduction (lifting arm away from body) until Dr. Forsythe or your therapist gives permission. These exercises must be done by someone else (Passive Range of Motion)
  • Physical therapy will begin approximately 3 - 4 weeks after surgery. Make an appointment with a therapist of your choice for this period of time. You have been given a prescription and instructions for therapy. Please take these with you to your first therapy visit
  • Athletic activities such as throwing, lifting, swimming, bicycling, jogging, running, and stop-and-go sports should be avoided until cleared by Dr. Forsythe

Wound Care

  • Keep the dressing on, clean and dry for the first 3 days after surgery
  • Remove the dressing 3 days after surgery. The steri-strips (small white tape that is directly on the incision areas) should be left on until the first office visit. You may apply band-aids to the small incisions around your shoulder
  • You may shower 5 days after surgery with band-aids on. Apply new band-aids after showering
  • Bathing, swimming, and soaking should be avoided for two weeks after your surgery

Eating

  • Your first few meals after surgery should include light, easily digestible foods and plenty of liquids, as some people experience slight nausea as a temporary reaction to anesthesia

Call your physician if

  • Pain persists or worsens in the first few days after surgery
  • Excessive redness or drainage of cloudy or bloody material from the wounds. (Clear red tinted fluid and some mild drainage should be expected). Drainage of any kind 5 days after surgery should be reported to the doctor
  • Temperature elevation greater than 101°
  • Pain, swelling, or redness in your arm or hand
  • Numbness or weakness in your arm or hand

Return to the office

  • Your first return to the office should be within the first 1-2 weeks after your surgery. Call Dr. Forsythe’s office to make your first postoperative appointment

Anterior-Inferior Capsular Shift With Or Without Bankart Repair - All Arthroscopic Repair Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Protocol

General Postoperative Protocol - For Anterior Inferior Instability

PROTOCOL: Bidirectional instability (anterior/inferior) without a significant posterior component, sling (6 weeks out for rehab)

  • 1 - 4 Weeks Arm held in sling, slightly abducted, neutral rotation
    • Gentle isometric exercises, pendulum exercises Hand, Wrist and Elbow ROMs Wound care and hygiene as needed May remove sling for exercises, showering and dressing
  • 4 - 12 Weeks Start Physical therapy
  • 12 Weeks Progressive strengthening
  • 9 - 12 Months Contact sports

PHASE 1: 0-4 Weeks

This portion of the rehab protocol is made possible with the assistance of a friend or a family member. All active range of motion exercises should be avoided. This relative immobilization period is critical for the healing of the soft tissues and promoting a shoulder without instability.

  • 10 Days - 2 Weeks Range of motion goals
    • Ext. rotation to 10°, forward elevation 90°
    • Isometric strengthening and ROM of the hand, wrist and elbow
  • 2 - 4 Weeks Range of motion goals
    • Ext. rotation to 20°, forward elevation 110°
    • Isometric strengthening and ROM of the hand, wrist and elbow

PHASE 2: 4-12 Weeks

We will begin formalized physical therapy 4 weeks after surgery. The goals by the end of the second phase of the rehabilitation process is to restore range of motion of the shoulder (both active and passive) within the limits of external rotation as determined by Dr. Forsythe. The main objective is to regain motion over several months because progressing too quickly may lead to recurrent instability

  • 4 - 6 Weeks
    • Ext. rotation to 30°, forward elevation 130° by the 6th week
    • Resistance exercises begun
    • No IR or ER resistance exercises
    • Periscapular isometrics
  • 6 - 8 Weeks
    • Discontinue sling and abductor pillow
    • Ext. rotation to 45°, forward elevation 160° by the 8th week
    • Resistance exercises
    • May begin IR/ER exercises against gravity
    • Periscapular isometrics
  • 8 - 12 Weeks
    • Ext. rotation - increase gradually from 45° with full forward elevation
    • Strengthening begins during this phase with arm in neutral below 90° - focus on the RTC musculature
    • Continue periscapular isometrics

PHASE 3: 3 - 6 Months

This phase is the functional phase of the rehabilitation protocol. We are trying to achieve aggressive strengthening exercises for the shoulder and scapular muscles. We will progress to functional activities needed for ADL's and sports

  • Push-up progression
  • Plyometric program
  • Overhead lifting/traction as tolerated at 4 months
  • Exercises
    • No pull-ups until 4 months postop
    • Throwing- Started between 4 - 6 months as determined by Dr. Forsythe
    • Return to sport at 4 - 6 months as determined by Dr. Forsythe

PHASE 4: > 6 Months

Return to contact sports