Date of Award

1999

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Peggy Mohr

Keywords

Joint Instability; Shoulder Dislocation; Shoulder Joint -- physiology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to add to the orthopaedic body of knowledge regarding the efficacy of dynamic shoulder bracing in the management of anterior shoulder instability. Two fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used for testing. One shoulder was used as the "normal" shoulder, while the other was used as the "unstable" shoulder through the creation of a simulated Bankart lesion. Arthroscopic insertion of radiographic markers allowed for assessment of anterior translation of the humerus through the use of x-rays. X-rays were taken with and without shoulder braces applied with the arm in a 90°/90° position. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results found during brace testing showed an average increase in anterior translation of 7.4% and 38.7% in the "normal" and "unstable" shoulders respectively. These results seem to show that bracing is ineffective and may in fact be detrimental to those using them. Results will provide healthcare professionals objective information concerning the use of dynamic shoulder bracing in the rehabilitation program of patients with anterior shoulder instability.

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