Rehabilitation after surgical management of the thrower's shoulder

The overhead throwing motion is a complex and coordinated movement pattern involving the lower extremities, the trunk, and the upper extremity. Because of these tremendous demands on the shoulder, various shoulder injuries may occur. Two of the more common injuries to throwers are shoulder instability and superior labrum anterior-posterior lesions. Although nonoperative treatment is frequently successful in treating these conditions, surgical management may be necessary for the athlete to return to their sport. The purpose of this article is to review the first 3 phases of rehabilitation after arthroscopic capsular stabilization and superior labrum anterior-posterior debridement or repair. The fourth phase, return to throwing, will be covered in the final section.