I need surgery to repair torn labrums in my shoulders

[scrapper62]

I had the first of two shoulder surgeries on October 23rd and am coming along. I've got torn labrum in both of my shoulders from weight lifting, playing ice hockey, and wrestling. I've been dealing with shoulder problems for the past 10 years. At 27 years-old, I'm 5'4" and weigh 135lbs. My left shoulder is recovering well from the Type II SLAP repair. In April, I am undergoing a more complex surgery on my right shoulder. I've got a larger labral tear in the right, and also have had previous surgery on that shoulder.

I've been going to physical therapy 3 days a week for the left shoulder. In about August, I can begin MMA training. What disciplines do you recommend that would be easy on my shoulders? In time, when I regain my strength and stability, I plan to test my limits.

thanks, Mike

[deadlyshaolin]

As someone who's had a labral tear and subsequent surgery, I can tell you that taking it slowly is paramount. Whatever you do, don't rush things. It took me about a year before things "felt right."

Make sure you do plenty of rotator cuff work when you're back to training, both in terms of strengthening and in terms of warming it up before you do anything else. Here is one of the few places that cables are very useful.

In terms of martial arts, it's hard to say. Whether it's boxing, MT, san shou, judo, wrestling, or BJJ, they all involve a lot of forces applied by and to the shoulder area. Since my surgery, I've done MT, san shou, and some judo, and my shoulder has held up fine, though it's sore sometimes after I've been the uki on lots of seoi-nagi's and makikomi's.