[Changes in proprioceptive capacities of the shoulder joint in ventral shoulder instability. A comparative study...

Measurements of movement sense determined by threshold levels for the perception of motion of the shoulder were performed in 10 patients with unilateral posttraumatic shoulder instabilities, in 30 patients who underwent arthroscopic labrum repair for recurrent anterior shoulder instability, and in 15 age-related controls. In patients with anterior shoulder instabilities threshold levels for the perception of motion were higher. In addition, movement sense measurements revealed a marked, but time dependent improve of proprioceptive abilities in patients who underwent arthroscopic labrum repair. While in the shoulders of patients with an postoperative period shorter than 18 months elevated threshold levels for the perception of motion still could be observed, after a postoperative period of 18 moths or more movement sense was not different from normal, uninjured shoulders. In conclusion, our study gives evidence for a proprioceptive deficit with anterior shoulder instability which improves significantly after arthroscopic labrum repair. The restitution of proprioceptive abilities, however, seems to be a time dependent process.