OVERTIME with The Sports Docs: Return to Play Following Bankart Repair

In this episode, we’re addressing the biggest concern of any athlete who has just sustained an injury – when will they return to play?

Speaking of common athletic injuries, it’s inevitable that we mention anterior shoulder instability. This injury is caused by a blow to an externally rotated and extended extremity. In other words, it’s pretty easy to envision how it can happen in any contact sport. Since it just won’t heal independently, professional medical treatment will be necessary.

There’s much to be said about nonoperative and surgical treatments and different surgical procedures. Mostly, the difference between arthroscopic, open Bankart repair, and bone block procedures. However, in today’s episode, we’ll focus on something else, and why post-op rehab can be highly important factor to a successful recovery .

One thing for sure is that time is a significant contributing factor to recovery. This can be problematic, seeing how some athletes are eager to return as soon as possible. Some surveys suggest time to be the sole criterion.

While there’s so much data available on orthopedic surgeries, sadly, little is known about the safe return to sport in their aftermath. So, in today’s episode, we’ll focus on one of the rarer studies available on this subject matter.