Current concepts in the rehabilitation of the athletic shoulder

Abstract

The rehabilitative process of the overhead athlete represents a significant challenge to the clinician. Overhead athletes (thrower, tennis player, swimmer) repetitively subject their shoulder joints to high microtraumatic stresses that, due to the accumulative effects, may lead to a variety of shoulder injuries. This type of athletic patient exhibits uniquely specific physical characteristics, such as hypermobility of the anterior shoulder capsule, excessive external rotation, hypomobility of the posterior capsule, limited internal rotation, and generalized ligamentous laxity of the glenohumeral joint. However, the overhead athlete must exhibit functional stability for pain-free sports participation. Functional stability is accomplished through the proficient balance of static (passive) and dynamic (active) stabilizers. During the rehabilitation process, various concepts, such as neuromuscular control, proprioception, force couple efficiency, plyometrics, eccentrics, and scapular stability, can enhance dynamic functional stability for the overhead athlete. The evaluation and treatment of the shoulder patient is in perpetual change, and the purpose of this paper is to discuss several current concepts in the rehabilitative treatment of the athletic shoulder patient.