Rehabilitation Protocol
SLAP repair
Phase I: Protect repair, restore ROM (0 to 6 weeks)
- May remove dressing and shower postop day #3
- Sutures are all underneath the skin and will dissolve on their own
- Ice or cold flow systems encouraged for the first week at a minimum: should be used 3- 4 times per day.
- Sling should be in place when not performing exercises
- Scapular ROM exercises
- No lifting with involved extremity
- Avoid pure active shoulder exercises, resisted biceps exercises
- Avoid shoulder rotation ROM from abducted position and cross body motions
- Initiate exercise program 3 times per day:
- Immediate elbow, forearm and hand range of motion out of sling
- Pendulum exercises
- Passive and active assistive ROM – flexion and scapular plane elevation to tolerance, ER to 45 (pulleys, supine gravity assisted exercises)
- Emphasize home program
PHASE II: Advance ROM (6 to 12 weeks)
- May discontinue sling
- Lifting restriction of 10 pounds should be reinforced with patient until 3 months
- Advance to AROM exercises
- Advance PROM and capsular mobility as tolerated
- Avoid rotational ROM in abducted position until 8 weeks postop
- Initiate rotator cuff and gentle biceps strengthening (up to 10 lbs).
Phase III: Restore function (> 3 months)
- Discontinue lifting restriction.
- Advance to higher level rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer strengthening
- Start throwing progression if applicable.
