Subacromial Decompression — / Acromioplasty

Gundersen Health System (GLSM) · Gundersen Health System Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

N/A (upper extremity); sling 7-14 days, discontinue per symptoms or physician approval, then only as needed for symptom control wks 2-6

Key Restrictions

Few restrictions; passive, active-assisted and active range of motion (ROM) return gradually as symptoms allow in Phase I, progressing toward full ROM by 6-8 wks; use biofeedback to inhibit compensatory shoulder shrug; sport-specific exercises only once strength scores reach 75% or the external/internal rotation strength ratio reaches 2/3

Timeline & Phases

3 phases: Phase I (0-2 wks, sling, gradual ROM, gentle rotator cuff and shoulder blade exercises), Phase II (2-6 wks, progress toward full ROM, isokinetic internal/external rotation strengthening, closed and open chain exercises), Phase III (6-12+ wks, full ROM by 6-8 wks, strengthening, plyometrics, isokinetic testing at 6-12 wks, return to work or sport)

Notes

Uses the Sapega-McClure stretching technique: active warm-up, heat while holding a low-load stretch, mobilization and ROM work, therapeutic exercise, ice while holding the stretch, then a home stretch, giving 3 sessions of total end range time (TERT) per day; shoulder blade exercises per Moseley and glenohumeral (ball-and-socket joint) exercises per Townsend; isokinetic rotation testing in the 30/30/30 position, or 90/90 for overhead athletes and laborers; return to work or sport needs no pain, full ROM, 90% isokinetic strength, 90% functional testing and physician approval

Surgeon / Author

Gundersen Health System Sports Medicine

Published

Updated November 2003