Labral Repair — Anterior Bankart Repair

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

Sling at all times (neutral rotation, 30-45 deg ABD); sleep in sling x 6 wks; shower with arm at side; driving at wk 6 per MD

Key Restrictions

No shoulder AROM Phase I; no lifting/carrying objects x 12 wks; no reaching behind back; no supporting body weight; no bathtub/pool/spa until sutures removed and wound healed; no ABD/ER activity (anterior inferior capsule stress); avoid anterior shoulder stress activities (push-ups, bench press) through Phase III; ER limited to 20 deg Phase I, 45 deg Phase II

Timeline & Phases

6 phases: Phase I (0-3 wks, PROM begins wk 2: FF <90, ER <20; AAROM wk 3), Phase II (4-5 wks, PROM FF 140, ER 45 scapular plane), Phase III (6-8 wks, AROM, sling wean), Phase IV (9-12 wks, progressive strengthening), Phase V (13-16 wks, plyometrics/sport prep), Phase VI (17+ wks, return to sport)

Notes

Criterion-based; anterior labral/capsular repair specific; sleep in sling x 6 wks; return to sport phase requires full pain-free AROM, 5/5 MMT, no substitution, independent HEP; complications to monitor: fever, numbness/tingling, excessive drainage, uncontrolled pain. [Archived copy — original Massachusetts General Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2026-02-28.]

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine