The countdown begins.
The follow up visit to see the shoulder surgeon went well. The stitches were taken out, the surgeon did an exam, and given instructions to stay in the sling for another four weeks the college gymnast was told that she could begin working with the team physical therapists in four weeks. The pain management after the surgery had gone well, the athlete was well rested and had all but limited the movement of the left shoulder.
During the follow up visit the surgeon explained that he had never seen a 20 year old shoulder with tendons that were that loose, but he was certain he had achieved his goal during the surgery. He showed the athlete how he had anchored the cannula and drilled the hole in the socket and repaired the labral tear in the shoulder. He had also done some work to tighten the tendons, and by keeping the left arm in a sling for the next four weeks he was certain the scar tissue would build up. Then, and only then, could the work with the physical therapists begin. Until then the college gymnast would have limited use of her left arm. with lifting restrictions that included no more than lifting something the weight of a coffee cup straight up to her mouth, the athlete could type on a keyboard and do other small tasks that could be accomplished from the slinged position.
Orthopedic Surgeons and Physical Therapy Services Can Help College Athletes Get Back to Doing What They Love
Shoulders, knees, elbows, and ankles are some of the most common injuries that high school and college athletes suffer from. In a time of nearly year round training it should come as no surprise that many athletes find themselves in and out of the offices of both surgeons and physical therapists. Following the directions given after a surgery or during the rehab process has a direct effect on how well an surgery or injury will heal.
With an increasing number of injuries to athletes who train year round it should come as no surprise that the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a physical therapist employment growth of 36% by the year 2022. Whether they are helping deal the more than 50 million Americans who have arthritis or the 1.5 billion people worldwide who suffer from chronic pain or a young athlete, these therapists are experienced in helping young and old alike living a life with less pain and inconvenience.