Wake Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Center’s Dr. Mark Wood sat down to discuss minimally invasive options for your painful shoulder if conservative methods have failed. Luke Hudson, DPT, also discusses what to expect prior to your surgery, immediately following your surgery, and your rehab.

Did you know that your shoulder is a complex joint that is capable of more range of motion than any other joint in the body? Having the most range of motion also means the shoulder joint is the most common joint for dislocations and instability.

With your shoulders working so hard on a daily basis, it is easy to see why injury, overuse, and age-related wear and tear are responsible for most shoulder problems.

Let’s talk about options to relieve your shoulder pain and other issues.

If you have exhausted all conservative options, it might be time to consider shoulder arthroscopy. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed for a large number of shoulder issues such as rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability stabilization, labrum repair and removal of inflamed tissue and damaged or loose cartilage.

What sets shoulder arthroscopy apart? Both the arthroscope (camera) and instruments are specialized and thin so only small incisions are required as opposed to the larger incisions required for traditional, open surgery. Smaller incisions and advanced techniques lead to less pain, less need for pain medications, outpatient procedures instead of hospitalizations and a quicker road to recovery. What’s not to like about that?

Now, let’s talk PT with Luke!

How do I prepare for surgery?

To best prepare for shoulder surgery, the patient should focus on improving strength of the rotator cuff muscles at the shoulder, as well as the muscles that surround the shoulder blade. This can be achieved with light weights and/or resistance bands. Any exercise that leads to acute pain or replicates symptoms should be avoided. Typical areas of weakness include the shoulder external rotators, scapular stabilizers like the rhomboids and serratus anterior. Reducing pain and inflammation prior to the time of surgery can also lead to better outcomes with post-operative rehab.

What can I expect after surgery?

It is largely dependent on the type of surgery that is done. In some cases, there is an extensive protective phase that requires the patient to be in a sling for several weeks. This is common following procedures such as SLAP repairs and rotator cuff repairs. In other cases, progression of rehab would depend primarily on pain level and early post-operative goals. The first several days after surgery are typically best spent focusing on rest and recovery. Applying ice to the shoulder and using TENs to help with pain can help expedite recovery. Physical therapy will typically start within the first 4-7 days after surgery.

What does rehab look like?

Rehab following shoulder arthroscopy typically involves 3 phases:

1. Focus on improving passive range of motion at the shoulder and reducing pain/inflammation.
2. Focus on improving active motion of the shoulder and return to independence with daily activities.
3. Improve strength and stability of the shoulder.

During the final phase, focus is placed on correcting any deficits that may have left to injury in the first place.

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About Mark Wood, MD

Dr. Mark Wood was born and raised in North Carolina. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and completed medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning the degree of Doctor of Medicine with Honors. He continued his training in Orthopaedic Surgery at UNC prior to earning Board Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.

Dr. Wood’s focus is sports medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of knee and shoulder injuries and disorders. His specialty interests are in arthroscopic surgery, with an emphasis on rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability and minimally invasive knee procedures including ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Dr. Wood continues to be recognized for his achievements and excellence to the profession and his unbending dedication to his patients and community. He serves as the medical director and provides sports medicine coverage for North Carolina FC Youth, the largest youth-to-pro soccer club in the nation, and serves as the sports medicine doctor for Trinity Academy and Grace Christian School for each organization’s athletic trainers. He is the chief medical officer at Swing Racquet and Paddle, a facility dedicated to racquet sports with a focus on sports science, injury prevention/prediction, physical therapy, sports medicine, health and innovation. He was honored to be selected to serve as the venue medical director for the CONCACAF Women’s Soccer World Cup qualifier tournament featuring the 2019 US Women’s National Team en route to their 4th World Cup Championship.

He has expertise in youth sports overuse and ACL injury prevention and has directed educational collaboratives with North Carolina FC Youth, WakeMed, SafeKids USA, the Carolina Railhawks, the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) and the FIFA, US soccer/DePuy Sports Medicine programs. He helped create and oversees the safe return to sports protocols as part of the North Carolina FC Youth sports medicine team.

About Wake Orthopaedics

For 20 years, Wake Orthopaedics has been serving the Triangle community with comprehensive orthopaedic care to help their patients regain their mobility and restore their quality of life. With specialties and expertise in conditions of the bones, muscles and joints, our team of board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists utilize progressive treatments and state-of-the-art technology to care for everything from hip fractures to ACL injuries to arthritis. In addition to traditional orthopaedic services, Wake Orthopaedics provides trauma services, rehabilitation services and care for pediatric injuries. Wake Orthopaedics is a WakeMed Physician Practice.

About Wake Orthopaedics Physical Therapy

It’s our goal to get you back to your active lifestyle. Our techniques are based on national best practices to ensure you receive the latest, best treatment for your condition. We provide physical therapy and occupational therapy in Raleigh, Cary, the Brier Creek area and Apex, North Carolina.