CLIENT:
Client: Rosa D., Albany, NY
TIMEFRAME:
October – November 2024
Reduced Shoulder Mobility and Instability Post-Sports Injury
Rosa, an amateur rugby player in her 20s, sought my help to restore full function to her left shoulder after a dislocation as she struggled with joint stability and strength, which compromised her performance on the field. Her goal was to be fully prepared for the spring 2025 season. She also wanted to address recurring hamstring discomfort, especially during running and sprinting.
CHALLENGE
When I first met Rosa, her shoulder exhibited significant limitations in range of motion (ROM) due to surgical anchors placed on some of the tendons during her shoulder surgery as well as typical post-surgery trauma to her fascia. These restrictions affected flexion, abduction, functional internal rotation, and cross-body flexion.
APPROACH
First Session:
Conducted a thorough movement assessment to identify limitations and potential contraindications to exercise.
Identified poor posture and dysfunctional movements, eliciting neuromuscular trigger points and pain. Addressed them immediately to alleviate discomfort and improve movement.
Observed specific dysfunctional patterns, such as Valgus Collapse during the Squat and poor pelvic control in the Split Squat, even without pain or trigger points.
Applied myofascial release techniques to targeted areas, including the Plantar Fascia and calves, to improve mobility and reduce tension.
Introduced a combination of stretches to improve posture and address immobility.
Presented stability exercises to restore proper function in the Squat and Split Squat, ensuring mobility gains were retained.
Provided detailed instructions on performing the Hinge Deadlift.
Focused on addressing a dysfunctional Squat pattern where the collapse of her right knee caused pelvic misalignment. This included correcting movement errors and rebuilding confidence in her “bad” knee.
Designed a personalized corrective exercise routine that Beverly could perform independently, ensuring she had the necessary equipment and guidance for long-term success.
Next 9 Sessions:
Worked through isolated movements, joint by joint, and restored functionality wherever limitations were identified.
Continued to build Beverly’s mastery in Fundamental Human Movements, ensuring a strong foundation for progression.
Monitored changes in movement and remedied dysfunctions promptly as they arose.
Instructed advanced skills, including Acceleration, Top End Speed, Agility, and Plyometrics, enhancing her performance.
RESULTS
First Session:
Rosa’s shoulder flexion improved by 80%, abduction by 90%, external rotation by 90%, and functional internal rotation by 85%. Additionally, her hamstring dysfunction was significantly reduced, and she reported no longer feeling tightness.
Next 9 Sessions:
Joined my HIIT class.
This enabled her to master proper running form.
Her hamstring which hurt during and after running hasn’t bugged her since. I will continue to monitor it.
Rosa will continue HIIT 3x per week until her season starts to build strength and maintain the necessary conditioning. I look forward to hearing about how her rugby season goes.