Dynamic brace is a good option to treat first anterior shoulder dislocation in season.

PURPOSE: We evaluate the ability of in-season competitive athletes to return to competition after an anterior shoulder instability treated conservatively with a new dynamic brace combined with a specific rehabilitation program.

METHODS

Twenty soccer players affected by traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation have been enrolled in the "Footballer In Season Fast Rehab" project during 2 consecutive football seasons. We excluded patients affected by rotator cuff tears and the bony defect over 25%. All the players have been treated the day after the first dislocation with a new dynamic brace used until the end of the second month after the first glenohumeral dislocation combined with a specific rehab protocol. Athletes were evaluated for the time necessary to completely resume sport activities, to complete the season, and for the recurrence of dislocation.

RESULTS

All the athletes enrolled in this study were able to come back on the ground in approximately 40 days after the dislocation except 2 of them. Only two athletes claimed a slight discomfort at the return to play. One athlete had a traumatic relapse of the instability, 50 days after the dislocation. Another athlete claimed to have had a subluxation during a training session 45 days after the dislocation. 90% of the athletes were able to end the season without any shoulder discomfort.

CONCLUSIONS

The dynamic brace combined to the rehabilitation protocol represents the solution that allows a quick start of resumption of training while maintaining a stable pain-free shoulder.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.