Postoperative Treatment Principles in the Throwing Athlete

Rehabilitation plays a vital role in the ultimate functional outcome after surgery in the overhead-throwing athlete. The ultimate goal of the postoperative rehabilitation program is to return the athlete to unrestricted sport specific activities as expeditiously and safely as possible while minimizing postsurgical complications. Rehabilitation after surgical procedures to stabilize the throwing shoulder must allow adequate healing time without allowing significant loss of motion to occur. Emphasis is placed on immediate but restricted and controlled motion, as well as the development of proprioception, neuromuscular control, and dynamic stabilization of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joint. The rehabilitation program will vary based on the unique characteristics and pathology of each patient, the specific surgical procedure performed, and the healing rate of the soft tissues involved. All of these factors must be considered when designing a postsurgical rehabilitation program for the overhead-throwing athlete. This article discusses the postoperative rehabilitation principles for the overhead athlete as well as specific programs used following thermal-assisted capsular shrinkage, arthroscopic Bankart repairs, open anterior capsular shift procedures, and glenoid labrum procedures.