Evaluating return to performance after shoulder surgery in athletes

Return to Performance Criteria Following Shoulder Instability Surgery in the Athlete.

Not applicable Interventional University of Liege · NCT04507854

This study is testing if certain guidelines can help athletes know when they’re ready to return to sports after shoulder surgery and how well they’ll perform.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment80 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 35 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Liege Academic / other
Locations1 site (Liège)
Trial IDNCT04507854 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to assess whether specific criteria for returning to sports can predict an athlete's performance level after shoulder instability surgery. Athletes who have undergone Bankart or Latarjet procedures will be evaluated at 6 months post-surgery using strength, range of motion, and functional tests, along with questionnaires. Performance monitoring will continue at 12, 18, and 24 months to determine the effectiveness of these criteria in predicting successful return to sport.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are athletes aged 18 to 35 who engage in upper limb sports for more than 3 hours per week and have recently undergone shoulder surgery.

Not a fit: Patients with other medical conditions that may hinder their ability to participate in physical activity will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could help athletes safely return to their sport at pre-injury performance levels.

How similar studies have performed: While similar studies have explored return-to-sport criteria, this specific approach focusing on predictive criteria post-shoulder surgery is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Athletes playing sports soliciting the upper limb (\> 3 hours per week)
* Athletes between 18 and 35 years of age
* Patients with recent Bankart or Latarjet shoulder surgery (less than 4 months ago)
* Patients accepting the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with other pathologies that interfere with planned physical activity.

Where this trial is running

Liège

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions ShoulderReturn to SportSurgery
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.