Shoulder Instability One Day Course Saturday 27th June

⚠️ Spaces are very limited — book now to secure your place.

📅 Saturday 27th June 2026 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Pro-Health Physio / Pioneer Performance, 5 Hawick Cres, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1AS

Shoulder instability is rarely only a simple strength problem. Athletes often present with ongoing symptoms despite good capacity, and the challenge becomes understanding what is actually failing — and how to target it effectively.

This session breaks down the management of shoulder instability into a clear clinical framework, from early-stage rehabilitation through to advanced loading. You'll explore anterior and posterior cuff strategies, scapular contribution, and the role of co-contraction in restoring control and confidence. The emphasis is on making better decisions in clinic — knowing what to target, how to load it, and how to progress without over-complicating rehabilitation.

Programme Schedule

• 9:00 – Clinical assessment of the unstable shoulder: review assessment processes / special tests
• 9:30 – Diagnosis of instability: assessment of the unstable athlete
• 10:30 – Morning Tea
• 11:00 – Managing instability
• 11:30 – Theoretical: Acute, Subacute, Advanced Sub-acute management / Subscapularis protocols
• 12:00–1:00 – Lunch
• 1:00 – Subacute management: Infraspinatus protocols
• 2:15 – Scapula assessment and treatment options with progressions
• 3:00 – Short break
• 3:15 – Co-contraction protocol
• 3:30 – Case summary
• 4:00 – Finish

Goals for the Day

• Undertake a thorough and comprehensive assessment of a patient with shoulder instability
• Differentiate directions of instability and identify key clinical signs
• Design a progressive rehabilitation plan targeting subscapularis, infraspinatus/teres minor, and scapula
• Use co-contraction protocols to address instability in more than two directions

Learning Outcomes

Clinical Assessment

• Perform a comprehensive clinical examination including specific tests for instability
• Interpret results of the apprehension test, relocation test, and load-and-shift test

Diagnosis

• Differentiate between anterior, posterior, and multidirectional instability
• Identify key clinical signs and symptoms in athletes

Management Strategies

• Design a progressive rehabilitation programme for acute shoulder instability
• Implement appropriate manual therapy techniques for subacute management

Subscapularis & Infraspinatus Protocols

• Demonstrate specific exercises targeting the subscapularis in rehabilitation
• Apply progressive resistance techniques for infraspinatus strengthening

Scapula Assessment & Treatment

• Conduct a thorough assessment of scapular position and movement
• Develop a tailored exercise programme to address scapular dyskinesis

Co-contraction Protocols

• Explain the importance of co-contraction in shoulder stability
• Design and implement exercises that promote optimal co-contraction of shoulder musculature

Case Study Analysis

• Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world clinical scenarios
• Formulate evidence-based treatment plans for complex cases of shoulder instability in athletes