Only Postural corrections to retract scapula and prevent secondary pecs from shortening
Neuro V’s Physio Ligament Rehab
Case Study: Neuro V’s Physio Ligament Rehab
Dan Kneitel is an ex-professional snowboarder, whose career in the mountains ended prematurely following a severe snowmobile accident. After 10 years of
recovery, Dan was finally able to get back on his beloved snowboard.
On the first day of the 2019 riding season, Dan crashed at high speed catching his toe edge in low visibility on mogul that formed in the afternoon. He was whipped directly on his right shoulder, which sustained a high impact hit.
Dan then started the rehab process with physiotherapist and manager, Zoe Hunt, at LifeMark Physiotherapy.
At this time Dan educated Zoe of his back injury and rehab, thus building the confidence with Zoe to introduce his neuroplasticity techniques with Zoe, to assist in his treatment plan.
Bruising from catching a front side edge snowboarding at 60km/h
Compared to Zoes 20 year bench mark of ligament rehab, Dan was able to make an unprecedentedly recovery to get back to high impact snowboarding.
The following case study shows the Zoes case notes of initial treatment, and subsequent treatments and rate if progression
Diagnosis
12 December 2019:
After falling on his right shoulder while snowboarding at a high speed
diagnosed with:
• grade 1-2 Acriomlavicular (AC) joint separation and a possible
sternoclavicular (SC) joint sprain.
• X rays showed no fracture.
• No observed/palpable joint gap/step
• Tenderness on palpation over right AC joint
Expected time frame for high impact jumping on snowboard
“Given the grade of this injury and the level of riding he wished to return to, I would usually suggest this injury would take approximately 8 weeks to fully recover and allow return to sport.”
Pain Level Assessment
As Dan had been diagnosed with an AC joint sprain, the range
of movement and muscle testing was completed with caution.
Active range of movement
• Pain on active flexion over 60 degrees
• Able to achieve hand on hip
• Abduction to 60 degrees
• Tenderness on palpation over right AC joint
• No observed/palpable joint gap/step
Initial Exercises Prescribed
Road to Recovery
Now Dan knew he only had a ligament tear, he confidently used his neuro techniques in addition with Zoes initial prescribed exercises. The following dates show the progress of his neuro physio treatment:
December 19:
after the first week of treatment Zoe was shocked to see that Dan demonstrated a full active range of flexion and reported significant improvement in his pain. His shoulder and chest were still visibly bruised; however, he had no tenderness on palpation over his AC joint.
December 27:
Dan’s abduction had increased to 150 degrees. When reaching behind his back, he was able to reach equally with both his left and right arm.
Early January:
Dan felt comfortable enough to return to snowboarding and reported he was able to complete a 5-10ft drop pain free. At this point he has regained full range of movement and the focus in physiotherapy sessions had shifted to strengthening and movement pattern/stability exercises.
January 10th:
Dan had returned to riding his “regular terrain”—which for him meant a 30ft drop. He was able to complete this stunt with no feelings of instability or pain. He had achieved a full range of movement and was continuing to work on strength in range.
Outcome
In Zoe’s 10 years of experience working with shoulder injuries in Whistler, she was astounded by Dan’s unbelievably quick recovery time. What was
supposed to be an 8 week recovery, was shortened to less than 3 weeks.
Dan was able to return to his beloved sport much faster than she had anticipated, thanks to the incorporation of neuroplasticity techniques.
Zoe Hunt
BSc. PT
Clinic Director, LifeMark Whistler.
Clinic Director, LifeMark Whistler.
Zoe Hunt is a registered physiotherapist. She is certified in functional movement screen which she feels is a great tool to identify and minimize injury risk in an active population such as Whistler. She has 10 years of experience working with shoulder injuries in Whistler, Canada.
“What was expected to be an 8 week
recovery, was shortened to just less than 3
weeks”
Zoe Hunt