Post-operative Rehabilitation for Scapular Muscle Reattachment: A Case Report.
Wendy Burke, W Ben Kibler, Tim L Uhl
PMID 33842049WHAT IT FOUND
Following bilateral scapular muscle reattachment, a physical therapist reported immediate pain relief and functional improvement at one year.
Rehabilitation was notably slower than rotator cuff repair, requiring six weeks of no formal therapy and cautious progression to avoid tension on the healing muscles.
Key findings
01Scapular muscle reattachment recovery is slower than rotator cuff repair, with passive elevation to 90 degrees expected at 12 to 16 weeks rather than six weeks.
02Pre-operative education for activities of daily living during the initial six-week no-therapy period improved compliance and reduced pain in the second surgery.
03Manual scapular retraction and stretching of tight anterior muscles were critical to restore neutral scapular position before strengthening could begin.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so it cannot prove that the rehabilitation protocol causes better outcomes than other approaches. The participant was a physical therapist, which may have influenced her compliance, understanding of the condition, and ability to self-manage symptoms compared to the general population. The right shoulder surgery occurred eleven months after the left, meaning the timeline for bilateral recovery is complex and not directly comparable to single-side repairs. There is no control group or comparison to standard care, so the specific contribution of the modified techniques versus the surgery itself cannot be isolated.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest related to this manuscript.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the positive outcomes as evidence that this specific rehabilitation protocol is superior to standard care or that surgery is indicated for general scapular dyskinesis. This describes the experience of one physical therapist with a specific traumatic detachment, not a pattern applicable to all patients with shoulder pain.