Arthroscopic surgery and rehabilitation guidelines of shoulder injuries in the young overhead athletes

Abstract

Introduction. Shoulder injuries are serious health problem in athletes affecting performance, training schedule and competition results. Overhead athletes are having higher risk to suffer from acute and chronic shoulder injuries.Acute injuries of the shoulder involve traumatic episodes especially in contact sports. Symptoms of the chronic shoulder injuries are: present pain, decreased range of motion, weak muscles of the shoulder complex, joint laxity (instability), scapula position and posture changes. Basketball, tennis, volleyball, baseball, handball and etc. players are using overhead throwing motions. It is highly skilled movement, which requires flexibility, coordination, neuromuscular control, muscular strength and synchronicity. The throwing motion generates extraordinary demands on the shoulder joint.The overhead-throwing athletes exhibits several different physical characteristics—specifically, shoulder ROM, scapular position, laxity, muscular strength and proprioception. These characteristics must be understood to accurately assess what is a normal physical adaptation rather than pathology (Reinold, Gill, 2009). Research aim – to evaluate shoulder complex functional characteristics of the overhead and non-overhead young athletes before and 2 years after the concomitant arthroscopic type II superior labrum anterior posterior(SLAP) and partial – thickness rotator cuff (PTRC) repair and to present specific rehabilitation guidelines needed for successful return to sports. Research tasks: To measure and compare shoulder joint ROM in of the overhead and non-overhead young athletes in 2 years after concomitant arthroscopic surgery. To evaluate functional characteristics of shoulder complex using Constant score of the overhead and non-overhead young athletes in 2 years after concomitant arthroscopic surgery. To compile scientific literature based rehabilitation guidelines for the overhead athletes. [...].