The effects of rehabilitation on athletes after surgical treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder joint luxation

Abstract

By means of a surgical treatment of the recurrent anterior shoulder joint dislocation in active athletes, along with the use of an appropriate rehabilitation treatment, the chances to resume full sports activity considerably increase. The aim of the research was to determine the effects of rehabilitation on resuming shoulder joint function in active athletes after the surgical treatment of the recurrent anterior dislocation. All of 29 male athletes, aged 17.55 on average, sustained the injury during sports activities. The rehabilitation process lasted for six months (2008-2010) and it included electrotherapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, fitness, controlled kinesiotherapy, occupational and physical therapy. None of the patients experienced recurrence of dislocation during the 24-month controlled monitoring. The rehabilitation process was conducted at the Department of Sports Medicine of Novi Sad, as recommended by Hayes and in accordance with the modified procedure of Hodgins. The amplitude was measured by goniometer, while the results were expressed in degrees. The range of motion was measured after Desault bandage was removed (4-6 weeks), before the kinesiotherapeutic treatment and every two weeks during the treatment (until the end of the third month). The assessment of the functional results was carried out through postoperative monitoring of the values of the Neer scale (37.93% of the patients had excellent post rehabilitation results, 51.72% satisfactory, and 10.34% unsatisfactory results). The data were processed using the statistical program SPSS for Windows version 15.0. Univariate analysis of variance for repeated measures at the level of significance p < 0.05 was used to establish the differences in the range of movement. The research results indicate the evident statistically significant difference between the initial and final states (flexion: F=2502.04; p=0.00; abduction: F=1638.83; p=0.00; external rotation: F=471.67; p=0.00; inner rotation: F=2144.63; p=0.00). The results show a statistically significant difference in all the variables and all the repeated measuring when compared to the previous one.