Shoulder brace?

Does anyone have any knowledge/insight about shoulder braces/stabilizers?
Brief history: Dislocated twice (anterior), Surgery (re-attach labrum & bankart repair), then dislocated again. I'm back in PT to strengthen rotator cuff, but chances are it's gonna happen again, my glenoid is abnormally shallow.
I've seen different kinds of braces, etc., but my PT says he has yet to see one that actually works.
Do any of you have experience with a brace that really keeps that joint in place under strain?
Thanks in advance for any advice :)

Bummer Tess!!
I read on the other board that you were on skis??? shame on you :)
Sorry I missed you guys, that race sounded fun.

I am also a PT. I work with people after stroke who have major problems with shoulder joint subluxation. It's a real problem getting a brace that will do the job. One thing that can be helpful is strapping tape. If it's done firmly and in the right direction, the effect of the tape pulling on the skin, if it strays into the wrong alignment, gives increased sensory feedback so you adjust your alignment accordingly. The only issue is that it is difficult to put on yourself. Your PT will probably know a good shoulder tape and may be able to teach somebody else who can put it on for you before going skiing.

My other advice is do your exercises religiously. the role of the rotator cuff is to maintain the integrity of the joint. Even though your glenoid is shallow, getting those muscles super strong is vital. We give out these exercises for very good reason, boring though they can be.

Thanks, yoga. Yes, I'm expanding my horizons ;) It was nice to have some comic relief at that point! I'll definitely see you weekend after this one.

Mrs Roo, thank you for the advice! I hadn't thought about tape. I'll ask him on Monday if he knows how to do it.
The exercising is where I failed this last time. I went to all the PT sessions, but slacked after that. I probably could have prevented this last incident had I continued. Live and learn.

I've found one method for you to look at. When you have can you tell me what a rough stock rider is? Forgive my English ignorance.

http://www.orthohealth.com/askthedoc/sholder.html

that's an interesting tape job. I'm printing it and will take in to PT next week. Thanks for the link! :) It might work, especially for spring riding when you don't have to do much layering.
I've never heard the term rough stock rider either...I'd guess the same as Buzz, though. "riding arm" & stock sound like they'd go with rodeos.

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Originally posted by Mrs Roo
I've found one method for you to look at. When you have can you tell me what a rough stock rider is? Forgive my English ignorance.

http://www.orthohealth.com/askthedoc/sholder.html

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Yes, they're talking about riding a bucking horse or bull. A rope goes around the horse or bull chest behind the front legs and the rider hangs with one hand and waves the other hand in the air. Yee-Ha.

Anyway, looking at the taping picture, I had a friend with a shoulder harness-chest strap contraption that kept him from lifting his arm and popping his shoulder while playing hockey. It looks similar to the taping job but buckles on. That's my total knowledge of shoulder braces.

I also dislocated my shoulder this fall and had a laberal tear repaired. I got to go skiing once this spring. When I did go, I decided at the last minute to buy a shoulder brace figuring that I was willing to spend $50 even if it was pointless.
My phys. therapist later said she didn't have any problems with me wearing one, but didn't think it was necessary. But also said, "it couldn't have hurt."

Mine was a neoprene contraption that wrapped around my torso, under both armpits and over the top of one shoulder. It covered the front, back, and top of one shoulder; it also wrapped around the upper half of one arm. There was a pocket in the support that covered the top and a portion of the sides of my shoulder. The pocket came with thick foam pad that could be replaced with a (slim) ice/heat pack. It seems that tape job would be more restrictive than this thing was.

All in all, it provided some compression and a sense of stability for the joint. It kept it warm and it definitely limited my range of motion (especially upward). That did keep me from reflexively sticking my arm out in a stupid way when falling.

Unfortunately, it also kept me from getting a full breath of air in. I was wheezing more than I would have liked.

Will, that's the one I saw that seemed like it would work best, but I didn't want to run out & buy one without some feedback. Thanks for yours. It doesn't sound very comfortable if you had trouble getting a full breath! I'm not sure I could deal with that, although I'm sure the tape does the same thing. Maybe it'll have to be an acceptable trade-off to get a few more days in.
Snow Dog, I also saw your friend's contraption and am still considering that too.
Thanks again for the feedback everyone!! :D

I had some dislocation problems a few years back (football related) and used a device similar to the ones mentioned above. It consisted of a large "vest" that went around the torso and over one shoulder and a cuff that went around the upper arm, both fastened by velcro. This did cause some discomfort when breathing heavily when it was really tightened down. The torso and arm cuff were also connected by two (I think) adjustable straps that limited range of motion (upward) and also could be adjusted to limit internal and external rotation (where the real problem was for me).

It did serve to increase my confidence in the stability of the joint, but ultimately I dislocated the shoulder again while wearing the device. I since have had the shoulder sugically repaired (about 10 years ago), and haven't had many problems since (though I consciously and subconsciously keep my shoulders out of harm's way now). You've gotta stick to the PT, but in any event you've probably got some pretty annoying arthritic pain to look forward to in the future.

Good luck!

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Originally posted by stash
You've gotta stick to the PT, but in any event you've probably got some pretty annoying arthritic pain to look forward to in the future.
Good luck!

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Yeah, can't wait for that! Sounds like you're having to deal with the arthritis already. Ugh. I actually have the same problem in both shoulders, the other one was repaired in 2000 but so far has held up. If I swing my arm in a circle though I feel it slide around, so it's probably only a matter of time.
I've heard some pretty nasty dislocation stories lately though, I feel like I'm lucky it hasn't been worse!

Have you done your exercises today?

I'll know if you're lying! ;)

Um....er.... yes?
I'm doing my morning bicep curl with weight. The weight seems to get lighter though with each curl as I drink the coffee! ;)

Ok, the real ones are on my list :)

edit >> Mrs Roo...just ran across these & thought I'd run them by you to see what you think, if one might be more effective than the other, or if either would be second to tape:
http://www.healthgiant.com/shop/pe_41501print.asp
http://www.seethetrainer.com/SS_Shou...er_Harness.htm (obvisouly not the one with the shouldermuhpads, the second one ;) )

The person to ask is probably your PT who sounds like he is a musculoskeletal specialist. I'm a neurology specialist so I haven't got experience of these devices for sports injuries. I know they are not great for people with shoulder subluxation after stroke but that is an alignment problem at rest rather than larger range movements. I have found taping to be the best intervention with my stroke patients for the reasons I gave earlier but you should really discuss all of the options with your treating PT before parting with any cash.


P.S. Do your exercises!

Tess, I know they are out there, I know Healtsouth has them, but they may not be close to you. I have 2 torn labrums and wore one for football. Problem is that your mobility is very limited

Gonna bump this blast from the past rather than start anew one with the same title... :biggrin:

My shoulder has always been loose and has been coming out periodically for the past 3 or 4 years.

My.problem is that it is coming out easier and easier, last weekend I pole planted on a bump, turned around it, and fuck... there goes the shoulder.

This is clearly unaccepptable, and I know that it's going to end with surgery, but i'd like to make it through the current ski season first if I can. It's just started for fucks sake!

That's got me thinking braces, which is why I dug up this thread. I talked with a pt who is a collegue of mine and she says her brother (fmx rider with similar shoulder issues) has been through all the braces offered in her medical catalogues and finally settled on this one:

http://www.evs-sports.com/product/sh...houlder-brace/

Im just wondering if anyone has any experience with using this or any other shoulder brace skiing, and if I have a chance of making it through the season without dislocating it again??

Shit, do they make one of those that does both shoulders, jph?

I ripped my r/c and tore my bicep tendon a couple years ago and never got the surgery.

I didn't know Tess rode bulls....

Adding support at the joint helps, but there isn't much leverage working in your favor. If you fall on it while getting gnarly, I can guarantee you that the force of your impact will far outweigh the resistive force of the silicon brace.

May I suggest something that secures your elbow to your torso:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/DonJoy-Shoulder-Braces-Stabilizer/dp/B001IAYLA6"]http://www.amazon.com/DonJoy-Shoulder-Braces-Stabilizer/dp/B001IAYLA6[/ame]

i have heard really good things about the EVS shoulder brace. I might actually pick one up for paddling for my non-surgerized left shoulder since it is giving me issues and i want to put off surgery on it for as long as possible

this one
EVS brace

from the quick search i did there seems to be multiple versions, the one with teh bicep strap seems better

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crackboy

i have heard really good things about the EVS shoulder brace. I might actually pick one up for paddling for my non-surgerized left shoulder since it is giving me issues and i want to put off surgery on it for as long as possible

this one
EVS brace

from the quick search i did there seems to be multiple versions, the one with teh bicep strap seems better

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That's the one I ended up getting, I like the $40 price tag WAY better than the $200+ on the DonJoy. I haven't skied with it yet but will be this weekend, I'll report back about how it goes... hopefully my shoulder stays put, that's really all I'm asking!

http://www.evs-sports.com/assets/pro...atured/255.jpg

well let me know how the sizing goes. I might pick one up and read that they run kind of small

couple years ago i ripped out my shoulder on a stupid jump, wasn't even big.. so i know exactly what you're talking about here. i chose not to go to physio right away, bad idea brother.

i suggest rehab with a chiropractor. i went to mind and he healed me up nice, only thing is that you have to stick with it and it takes about 8-10 months of rehabbing.

feel better dude

I have the donjoy. Started dislocating a while ago and have done about 12 or so now on my right. It works really well, but for me this is all due to the straps that attach to the elbow and attempt to keep your arm from getting into risky positions. Does the EVS have these?

The problem with the donjoy, besides the price tag, is that its this solid piece of neoprene wrapped around most of your torso. It's really hot! and I hate being hot when I'm skiing.

I'm looking for something that has less overall material but still has enough grip on your waist to actually hold back your arm. Haven't found it yet, but thinking of trying to make one or something. Maybe if it attached to your belt...


Aside fun fact: this shoulder problem is a factor in making me switch back from snowboarding to skiing (less risky to the shoulder especially since I'm regular and right hand is always waving around behind me),... and I guess is partially responsible for getting me here to the venerable TGR boards.