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Background: Most surgical reconstructions of the separated acromioclavicular joint do not address the injured ligaments and capsule of the acromioclavicular joint., Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the biomechanical characteristics of a modified Weaver-Dunn reconstruction and an intramedullary acromioclavicular joint reconstruction that uses a free-tissue graft for reconstruction of both the coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular ligaments., Study Design: Controlled laboratory study., Methods: Each pair of 6 matched pairs of cadaveric shoulders was randomly selected for a modified Weaver-Dunn reconstruction on 1 side and the contralateral side was used for free-tissue graft reconstruction of the coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular ligamentous complexes. Anterior-posterior and superior-inferior acromioclavicular joint translation (in millimeters) was measured with acromioclavicular joint compressions of 10, 20, and 30 N, and with translational loads of 10 and 15 N both before and after acromioclavicular joint reconstruction. Load-to-failure testing was then performed for each construct. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (translational testing) and Wilcoxon signed rank test (load-to-failure testing), both with P = .05, were used for statistical analysis., Results: Mean anterior-posterior and superior-inferior translation of the intramedullary acromioclavicular joint reconstruction was significantly less than that of the modified Weaver-Dunn under all loading conditions (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively), but was not significantly different from that of the intact state (P = .656 and P = .173, respectively). Although the mean ultimate and yield loads and linear stiffness for the intramedullary acromioclavicular reconstruction were greater than that of the modified Weaver-Dunn reconstruction, this did not reach statistical significance (P = .625, P = .625, and P = .625, respectively)., Conclusion: Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction with free-tissue graft for both the coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular ligamentous complexes demonstrates initial stability significantly better than a modified Weaver-Dunn and similar to that of intact specimens., Clinical Relevance: This acromioclavicular joint reconstruction provides the surgeon with a relatively nondestructive option.

Summary: The purpose of this article is to describe the outcome of an arthroscopic examination and the pathology in symptomatic shoulders of 41 professional overhand throwing athletes. With the arm in the position of the relocation test, 100% of the subjects had either contact between the rotator cuff undersurface and the posterosuperior glenoid rim or osteochondral lesions. Other key findings included undersurface cuff fraying in 93%, posterosuperior labral fraying in 88%, and anterior labral fraying in 36% of the subjects. This study supports the concept of impingement of the posterior cuff undersurface with the posterosuperior glenoid rim in the overhand throwing athlete with shoulder pain.

This discussion and the three case examples illustrate different etiologies of shoulder problems in the golfer. Age and the mechanics of an individual swing are factors to consider when defining the core problem. In summarizing shoulder pain in the golfer, perhaps the key point is that a thorough patient evaluation is essential to diagnose the problem accurately. It is only with a specific and accurate diagnosis that an optimal treatment program can be designed, and successful outcomes will be the result.

The need to investigate shoulder injury in swimmers other than the young and elite is evident, as all ages and levels are represented in the 100 million Americans who classify themselves as swimmers. To investigate the differences between young, highly competitive collegiate swimmers and older, less elite swimmers, a survey questionnaire was distributed to 100 collegiate and 100 master's swim teams. Questions regarding swimming routines, performance standards, and several possible predisposing factors associated with "swimmer's shoulder," as implicated in the literature, were investigated. As expected, the results revealed that the collegiate group swam the higher yardage, with considerably faster times in both the 50- and the 1,000-yd freestyle, and more than double the number of workouts per week. However, the collegiate and master's group reported similar percentages, 47 and 48%, respectively, experiencing shoulder pain lasting 3 weeks or more, despite the lesser distances and intensities associated with the latter group. Chi-square analysis revealed no association between shoulder pain and perceived level of flexibility, hand paddle usage, or breathing side for either group. However, over 50% of the swimmers with shoulder pain in both groups perceived that increased intensities and/or distance provoked shoulder pain, indicating that fatigue may be the issue to avoid and on which to focus. Strengthening the muscles of the shoulder, specifically those shown to have a propensity to fatigue, provides a strong defense against injury, as fatigue of the shoulder muscles may be the initial antecedent to swimmer's shoulder. These results give the swimmer, coach, and medical practitioner feedback to consider for a swimmer of any age or level.

Throughout the ages, instability has been noted to be the underlying problem in shoulder dysfunction of the young, overhand-throwing athlete. Impingement and rotator cuff tears are progressive symptoms of this instability. The classic theory of impingement describes a mechanism for "outside impingement," which is most often seen in the older, nonathletic population. The mechanism for "inside impingement" in the younger, athletic population is a pinching of the cuff undersurface on the posterosuperior glenoid labrum. In this younger group, the first treatment of choice is rehabilitation. If that fails, the surgical procedure with successful outcome is the ACLR coupled with a progressive rehabilitation program.

There are two distinct pathological categories of shoulder injury. In the older population, shoulder injury is generally a result of the degenerative aging process. In the younger population, it is commonly a result of the repetitiousness of an overhead sport. In the latter group, instability is typically the core problem, leading to the continuum of subluxation, impingement, and rotator cuff tear. A classification scheme, proposing four definitive types of shoulder injury, assists in directing an effective management program. Once diagnosed (the first step of treatment) a conservative rehabilitation program that emphasizes strengthening of the glenohumeral protectors, scapulohumeral pivotors, humeral positioners, and power drivers is advised. The surgery of choice, for the small minority who fail to respond to the rehabilitation program, is the anterior capsulolabral reconstruction. A sports medicine team working together with the athlete is instrumental in his/her return to sport.

Many exercises are used to strengthen the glenohumeral muscles, but there have been limited studies to evaluate the exercises. Thus, the purpose of this study was to decide how the muscles responsible for humeral motion can best be exercised in a rehabilitation program for the throwing athlete. Dynamic, fine wire, intramuscular electromyography was carried out in 15 normal male volunteers performing 17 shoulder exercises derived from a shoulder rehabilitation program used by professional baseball clubs. The four rotator cuff muscles were studied, as well as other positioners of the humerus, including the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and three portions of the deltoid. The electromyographic activity was synchronized with cinematography and averaged over 30 degrees arcs of motion. An exercise was considered to be a significant challenge for a muscle if it generated at least 50% of its predetermined maximum contraction over three consecutive arcs (i.e., a 90 degrees range). Four exercises were consistently found to be among the most challenging exercises for every muscle. These shoulder exercises consisted of 1) elevation in the scapular plane with thumbs down, 2) flexion, 3) horizontal abduction with arms externally rotated, and 4) press-up. This study documents that the minimum for an effective and succinct rehabilitation protocol for the glenohumeral muscles would include these exercises.