Shoulder injuries are common in sports, from contact sports to sports that require a lot of overhead motions, ball-throwing, and shoulder swinging. A shoulder injury means time off for athletes for a full recovery and a safe return to play.
Your orthopedic doctor may recommend shoulder surgery to repair the damage in the shoulder and to get you back in the game. As with any procedure, there are some things you need to know, such as the challenges and some considerations regarding shoulder surgery, which we will discuss below.
What Are Some Shoulder Conditions Common in Athletes?
Some of the shoulder conditions that are common among athletes are:
- Rotator cuff tendonitis – the inflammation or irritation of the tendons in the rotator cuff
- Rotator cuff tears – the partial or complete tearing of tendons in the rotator cuff
- Labral tears – damage or tears in the labrum, a ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket
- Superior labral anteroposterior (SLAP) tears – tears in the upper part of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches
- Shoulder dislocations – the upper arm bone popping out of its socket
These conditions can cause significant pain, loss of mobility, and weakness in the shoulder. Any athlete with such symptoms will not be able to participate in their sport and likely needs treatment.
When Do Athletes Need Shoulder Surgery?
According to a recent comprehensive analysis, the occurrence of shoulder pain in various sports is remarkably prevalent, with reported rates reaching as high as 32% in baseball, 47% in basketball, 63% in handball, and 52% in volleyball.
Many cases of shoulder injuries can heal without surgery. However, shoulder surgery may be necessary when non-surgical treatments do not relieve pain and other symptoms. Athletes with shoulder injuries should be able to regain full function of their shoulder and meet return-to-play requirements.
The most common shoulder surgeries performed on athletes are rotator cuff repair and shoulder arthroscopy, which are minimally invasive and require smaller incisions. Patients undergoing minimally invasive shoulder surgery can have a faster recovery.
What Is Recovery like from Shoulder Surgery?
Athletes must be prepared to commit to a rehabilitation program to regain strength and mobility of their shoulder, which could take several weeks. The surgical team and rehabilitation team will establish a recovery timeline, from the acute phase to the final phase, which is the return to activity phase.
Some common goals during recovery are for the patient to slowly regain:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Endurance
- Proprioception
- Dynamic stability
- Neuromuscular control
As the athlete advances in their rehabilitation journey, they will gradually incorporate sport-specific drills into their training regimen to prepare for a phased re-entry into competitive sports.
What Are Some Considerations for Athletes Before Shoulder Surgery?
Before undergoing shoulder surgery, athletes should consider the potential risks and benefits of the procedure.
Some of these are:
- Shoulder surgery carries inherent risks, and to minimize the risks, your choice of a highly qualified and experienced orthopedic hand surgeon is very important.
- Athletes should weigh the potential benefits of surgery against the recovery time and the chance of returning to their sport at pre-injury levels.
- Athletes should also have realistic expectations regarding recovery time and progress. Commitment to their rehabilitation affects the outcome of surgery.
- In some cases, surgery may not be the best option, and non-surgical treatments may be sufficient to relieve pain and restore function to the shoulder.
Shoulder Surgery for Athletes in Maryland
Our highly skilled hand surgeons at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder specialize in upper shoulder surgery and care for athletes and weekend warriors at every stage of treatment. Have our sports medicine physicians examine your shoulder and assist you in getting back to your game very soon.
We are committed to the highest standards in shoulder care, and our orthopedic surgeons are board-certified and fellowship trained members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH).
To schedule an appointment with a top hand surgeon, call us today at (410) 296-6232 or use our online request form. We look forward to serving you.
