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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Rehabilitation following shoulder arthroscopic stabilisation surgery: A survey of UK practice
Natasha Maher1, Elaine Willmore2, Marcus Bateman3
1MSK Department, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Halifax, UK.
Background:
Optimal rehabilitation following arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation for traumatic anterior instability is unknown. The purpose of this study was to establish current UK practice for this patient group.
Methods:
A self-administered online questionnaire was developed and distributed to UK surgeons and physiotherapists.
Results:
138 responses were received. Routine immobilisation was reported in 79.7% of responses with a cross-body sling being the preferred position (63.4%). Duration of immobilisation and timescales to initiate movement were highly variable. Return to light work was advised when patients felt able (25.4%) or after 6 weeks (26.1%). 58.7% recommended waiting for 12 weeks to return to manual work. 56% recommended non-contact sport could be resumed after 12 weeks. For contact sport, recommendations varied from 6 weeks (3.8%) to 6 months (5.8%). Psychological readiness was the most frequently cited criteria for return to play (58.6%). Factors such as hyperlaxity (40.6%), age (32.6%) and kinesiophobia (28.3%) were not considered as relevant as reported quality of surgical fixation (50%).
Conclusion:
There is no clear consensus regarding optimal post-operative rehabilitation following arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation. Further work is required to establish high value, personalised pathways for this patient group.