Conservative Care of a Patient with Initial Anterior Shoulder Dislocation Participating in an Intercollegiate Basketball: A Case Study

Abstract

A 23 year-old male patient participating in intercollegiate basketball, suffered an acute shoulder dislocation. The patient was diagnosed with an anterior glenohumeral labral tear and was treated with an indirect approach to increase range of motion (ROM) and function while decreasing pain. Patient related outcome (PRO) measures were used along with clinician related outcome (CRO) measures to discharge the patient. The immediate changes in ROM and pain along with follow-up assessments of the DASH achieved MCD and MCID levels. As rehabilitation specialists, athletic trainers have the opportunity to provide quality care to patients and recognize the how the injury or condition effects the patient. The follow-up assessments support that the completed conservative indirect treatment for a patient with a glenohumeral anterior labral tear was as effective in this isolated case. The individual was able to return to basketball activities at the same level as prior to the diagnosis. The use of Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) to restore allostatis in the central nervous was effective based on available outcomes for this patient. Then the continued re-education of pain-free functional movement patterns through Reflexive Neuromuscular Stabilization provided the patient the ability to maintain his functional gains. Clinically, the use of indirect treatments, like those used in this case, could be further researched to determine if they can be an effective treatment technique in patients following shoulder dislocation and subsequent glenohumeral anterior labral tear.