Athlete returning to sport after shoulder surgery

Adolescent Athletes & Shoulder Instability: Getting Back in the Game

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness July 2025 • 4 min read.

"A New Study Reveals High Return-to-Sport Rates After Shoulder Stabilization"

For young athletes, a shoulder dislocation can be a major setback. Anterior shoulder instability, where the shoulder joint becomes prone to slipping out of place, is a common issue, especially in sports. This can impact not just their athletic performance but also their overall quality of life.

Many young athletes and their parents are keen to understand what happens after surgery to fix this instability. Will they be able to return to their previous level of play? What are the chances of re-injury? A recent systematic review dives into these questions, offering valuable insights for adolescent athletes, their families, and healthcare providers.

This article breaks down the findings of this review, focusing on return-to-sport (RTS) rates, the timetable for getting back in the game, the risk of recurrent instability, and the need for further surgery. We'll also explore the unique challenges faced by athletes in contact sports and what this research means for their recovery journey.

High Hopes: Return-to-Sport Success After Bankart Repair

Athlete returning to sport after shoulder surgery

The systematic review, encompassing 11 studies and 461 adolescent athletes, highlights a promising trend: a high rate of return to sport following Bankart repair. This surgical procedure addresses anterior shoulder instability by repairing the torn ligaments that keep the shoulder joint stable.

The review found that:

81.5% of athletes returned to their pre-injury level of competition after undergoing Bankart repair.
On average, athletes were able to return to their sport approximately 5 months after surgery.
Arthroscopic Bankart repair, a minimally invasive technique, showed an 89.2% return-to-any-level-of-play rate, with 79.8% achieving their pre-injury level.

These findings suggest that Bankart repair is an effective option for adolescent athletes seeking to return to their previous level of athletic activity. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that surgery is just one piece of the puzzle. Comprehensive rehabilitation plays a vital role in ensuring a successful return to sport.

Navigating the Risks: Recurrence and Revision Surgery

While the return-to-sport rates are encouraging, it's important to consider the potential risks associated with Bankart repair. The review revealed an overall recurrent instability rate of 18.5% in the adolescent population. This means that some athletes experienced further dislocations or subluxations after the initial surgery.

Furthermore, the mean incidence of revision surgery, where a second surgery is needed to address recurrent instability, was 12.1%. These numbers highlight the importance of careful patient selection, appropriate surgical technique, and adherence to a structured rehabilitation program to minimize the risk of complications.

For contact athletes, higher recurrent instability (31.1%) and revision rates (13%) suggest the need for tailored prevention and rehabilitation strategies. More research is needed on managing anterior shoulder instability in adolescent patients and strategies to reduce rates.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1136/jisakos-2018-000224, Alternate LINK

Title: High Rate Of Return To Sport In Adolescent Athletes Following Anterior Shoulder Stabilisation: A Systematic Review

Subject: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Journal: Journal of ISAKOS

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Connor S Kasik, Michael R Rosen, Michael G Saper, Robert L Zondervan

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is anterior shoulder instability?

Anterior shoulder instability is a condition where the shoulder joint repeatedly dislocates or slips out of place, particularly in young athletes. This instability can significantly impact an athlete's ability to perform and their overall quality of life. It is frequently encountered in sports, making it a critical consideration for young athletes.

What is a Bankart repair?

The Bankart repair is a surgical procedure used to address anterior shoulder instability. It involves repairing the torn ligaments that are essential for keeping the shoulder joint stable. This surgery is a key intervention for young athletes experiencing shoulder dislocations, aiming to restore the joint's stability and enable a return to sports.

How successful is the Bankart repair for returning to sports?

According to the systematic review, around 81.5% of athletes can return to their pre-injury level of competition after Bankart repair. The average time for an athlete to return to sport is approximately 5 months. Arthroscopic Bankart repair demonstrates high return rates, with nearly 90% returning to some level of play, and almost 80% returning to their pre-injury level. This highlights the procedure's effectiveness and its potential for successful outcomes.

What is the risk of the shoulder dislocating again after Bankart repair?

After Bankart repair, the overall recurrent instability rate in adolescent athletes is about 18.5%. This means that approximately 18.5% of athletes may experience further dislocations or subluxations after the initial surgery. While Bankart repair shows promising return-to-sport rates, the risk of recurrence underscores the importance of comprehensive rehabilitation and careful management post-surgery.

Why is rehabilitation important after Bankart repair?

Comprehensive rehabilitation is critical following Bankart repair. Although the article does not detail rehabilitation programs, it emphasizes that successful return to sport goes beyond surgery. It involves a structured program of physical therapy, including exercises to restore shoulder strength, flexibility, and stability. Rehabilitation helps to minimize the risk of re-injury and maximizes the chances of the athlete returning to their pre-injury level of play. The systematic review highlights the importance of this complete approach for optimizing patient outcomes.