Rehabilitation of contralateral muscle atrophy following arthroscopic anterior shoulder instability surgery: a case study

Proper posture and sufficient scapular stabilization is necessary to provide normal shoulder functions after anterior shoulder instability surgery. A six-months rehabilitation program was performed to gain full shoulder functions and return to the sport after arthroscopic anterior shoulder instability surgery, a recreational athlete with bilateral idiopathic proximal muscular atrophy with marked prominence in the contralateral side of the surgery and scapular winging with significant deterioration in posture. Range of motion, pain, scapular kinematics, shoulder isokinetic rotator muscle strength and shoulder functions were measured bilaterally after surgery. Rehabilitation program was performed to achieve gradual external rotation in the surgical shoulder during the first three months. Scapular exercises combined with electrical stimulation were performed after contralateral trapezius and infraspinatus muscle atrophy and followed up since six months. Shoulder motions and muscle strength improved with rehabilitation end of the six-months in both shoulders and pain decreased on the surgical shoulder. The scapular movements were more symmetrical after treatment and scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt movements increased. At six months after surgery, the patient achieved full shoulder function and returned to the sport