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Bankart lesion shoulder surgery
Hand shoulder surgery bankart lesion surgery happened 3 months ago . Key hole surgery
Not able to lift hand completely up .
Even my physio is trying lot he is not able to .
So is there no solution. Will i ne able recover and range of motion
Answers (15)
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Sometimes, the joint capsule becomes excessively tight or develops localized guarding, turning standard stretching into what feels like pushing against a solid brick wall. This is a physiological response, not a failure of your effort or your physiotherapist's skill. Full overhead motion commonly takes 6 to 12 months to completely return.
Next Steps
Perform this Table Slides: Sit next to a table, place your hand on a towel, and slide your arm forward by leaning your torso into the movement. Wand / Broomstick Stretches: Lie on your back, hold a stick with both hands, and use your healthy arm to completely drive and push the surgical arm into a comfortable overhead stretch.
Health Tips
Apply a warm, moist towel or heating pad to the shoulder for 15 minutes before your home exercises to increase tissue elasticity and relax guarding muscles.
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Healing from a Bankart repair can be a slow journey, particularly when it comes to lifting objects overhead and regaining your complete range of motion. Finding that your shoulder is still stiff or that your muscles are guarding is a typical experience even three months post-surgery, so do not let it discourage you.By adhering to a structured, phased rehabilitation program, the majority of patients experience continuous progress over the subsequent months. Your rehabilitation should target shoulder blade (scapular) control, incremental mobility gains, and building strength in the rotator cuff. Aggressive or forced stretching should be strictly avoided.
Health Tips
To ensure your recovery is on track, you can opt for a one-week online physiotherapy consultation. This allows an expert to evaluate your current rehab routine, optimize your exercise technique, and help you safely transition back to full shoulder mobility.
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Sling as prescribed
• Hand, wrist, and elbow ROM exercises
• Scapular setting exercises
• Pendulum exercises (if permitted)
• Cryotherapy
Avoid:
• Shoulder abduction with external rotation
• Sudden movements
• Lifting or pushing
⸻
Phase 2: Early Mobility (4–6 Weeks)
Goals:
• Gradually restore ROM
• Maintain repair integrity
Exercises:
• Passive and assisted shoulder flexion
• Gentle external rotation within prescribed limits
• Table slides
• Wand exercises
• Scapular stabilization
⸻
Phase 3: Strengthening (6–12 Weeks)
Goals:
• Restore strength
• Improve dynamic stability
Exercises:
• Isometric rotator cuff exercises
• Theraband internal and external rotation
• Rows
• Serratus anterior strengthening
• Closed-chain exercises (wall push-ups)
⸻
Phase 4: Advanced Strengthening (3–6 Months)
Goals:
• Improve functional strength
• Enhance proprioception
Exercises:
• Progressive resistance training
• Push-up progression
• Plank variations
• Rhythmic stabilization drills
• Medicine ball exercises (if appropriate)
⸻
Phase 5: Return to Sport/Work (4–6+ Months)
Criteria:
• Full, pain-free ROM
• Near-normal strength compared to the opposite side
• No instability symptoms
• Surgeon clearance
Exercises:
• Sport-specific drills
• Plyometric training
• Throwing progression (for overhead athletes)
Next Steps
Consult good physiotherapist
Health Tips
Search in near by location
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Recovery after Bankart repair can sometimes be slow, especially for overhead lifting and full ROM. At 3 months, stiffness and muscle guarding are still common, so don’t lose hope. With proper phase-wise rehab, most patients continue improving over the next few months. Focus should be on scapular control, gradual mobility and rotator cuff strengthening—not forceful stretching.
Health Tips
You can also take a 1-week online physiotherapy guidance session to review your current rehab protocol, correct exercises and progress safely toward full shoulder movement.
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Hey there!
Keep doing exercises . Post surgery rehabilitation usually takes times. Our body takes time to accept the changes done. Be hopeful.
If you need any exercises guidance feel free to contact me.
Click on consult button or call on my clinic number.
Regards
Your physio
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Hi please take an online consultation for best diagnosis and treatment
Next Steps
I need to check some clinical movement
Health Tips
Physiotherapeutic exercise under experience and qualified is the right choice and definitely you will get your complete ROM
postural care
Isometric external rotation shoulder joint exercise
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This is your sign to do exercises of neck, shoulder, elbow& wrist so the muscle around your shoulder join gets activated. And it will start recovering.
Next Steps
do the ROM of the affected hand with other hand.
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â ï¸ Disclaimer
This advice is based on the information provided and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace a physical examination or medical diagnosis.
Recovery after arthroscopic can sometimes be slower than expected, especially when stiffness develops after surgery. At 3 months, inability to fully lift the shoulder does not necessarily mean permanent loss of movement.
Common causes include:
⢠Post-operative stiffness / frozen shoulder changes
⢠Tight healing capsule after stabilization surgery
⢠Scar tissue formation
⢠Muscle weakness or guarding due to pain
⢠Altered shoulder blade mechanics during recovery
In many patients, shoulder range of motion continues improving gradually over 6â12 months with the right rehabilitation strategy.
The important factor is whether:
â Motion is slowly improving
â Passive movement is also restricted
â Pain or stiffness is the main limiting factor
A detailed assessment is needed to differentiate between stiffness, weakness, tight repair, or any associated rotator cuff/scapular issue.
Next Steps
Re-evaluation by your operating shoulder surgeon is recommended
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Consult in private chat for proper detailed assessment and correct treatment options for full recovery
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At 3 months after Bankart surgery, difficulty lifting the arm overhead is still quite common. The repair is healing, but the shoulder muscles and movement control are still rebuilding. With consistent physiotherapy, most young patients gradually regain overhead movement, strength, and confidence over the next few months. Surgery repairs the tissue, but physiotherapy restores the function — so staying regular with rehab is the key to a successful recovery.
Next Steps
You should continue physiotherapy consistently and progress shoulder mobility and strengthening gradually under guidance.
Health Tips
Forcing overhead movements, sudden jerks, heavy lifting, or returning to sports/gym too early can irritate the shoulder or risk re-injury. Controlled progression and proper guidance are very important during this phase.
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Be regular with shoulder exercise proper shoulder rehabilitation is important
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Yes you will be able to achieve complete shoulder movements. Continue with your exercises. Movements are regained in a phased manner. Wait for one to two more months for complete range of motion
Next Steps
Be regular with shoulder exercises
Health Tips
Wall walks will be helpful
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Dr. Vishnu S (PT)
Physiotherapist
8 yrs exp
Thiruvananthapuram
This is a very common phase of recovery ,
A Bankart surgery is performed to fix shoulder instability. To do this, the surgeon has to tighten a loose joint capsule. Because the tissue is intentionally tightened, post-operative stiffness is incredibly common. At the 3-month mark, the repaired tissue is still maturing and remodeling. It is often very rigid and scarred down. It is entirely normal for full overhead range of motion to take 6 to 12 months to fully return.
Sometimes, the shoulder capsule becomes excessively tight or develops a lot of internal scar tissue (a localized arthrofibrosis). When this happens, it feels like a literal physical block. Standard stretching can feel like pushing against a brick wall, which is likely why your physiotherapist is struggling to make headway right now. It doesn't mean your physio is doing a bad job; it just means the tissue is currently highly resistant.
Next Steps
You need to schedule a follow-up review with your surgeon. They will evaluate the shoulder to confirm the repair is perfectly intact and assess the exact nature of this stiffness.
Once the surgeon reviews it, we can modify the approach. This might involve your physiotherapist shifting focus toward specific, advanced joint mobilizations rather than just manual stretching, or looking into modalities to relax the surrounding guarding muscles.
Health Tips
Home Care Tips for Your Shoulder Recovery
Use Moist Heat First, Apply a warm, moist towel or heating pad to your shoulder for 15 minutes before doing your home exercises.
The "Wand" Stretch, Hold a walking stick or broomstick with both hands. Use your strong, healthy arm to gently push your stiff arm upward into elevation. Keep the surgical arm completely relaxed—let the stick do all the work.
Table Slides, Sit at a table, place your hand on a towel, and gently slide your hand forward while leaning your body into the movement.
Low-Load, Long-Duration, Do not force a hard, painful stretch. Instead, push gently until you feel a firm stretch, and hold it there for 30 to 45 seconds.
Repeat this gently 3–4 times a day
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Dr. Neetu Rathi (PT)
Physiotherapist
17 yrs exp
Gurgaon
Greetings from Rid of Pain Physiotherapy
It depends on the proper assessment like muscle strength and the spasm/stiffness.
Manual therapy can help u to improve the range of motion.
Better you consult the manual therapist near or connect us personally
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.