lamby Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 I dislocated my shoulder last winter and I've re-injured it again a couple times this season. I'm thinking that a shoulder brace that adds some support and some limiting of the range of my arm movement might help. I've been trying to back off and to not drag my hand on toe turns at all. Original injury was on a toe turn and going fast - hand touched man-made snow and stuck in - arm wrenched back on overhead causing dislocation that required trip to hospital. I recovered w/o surgery. This year I fell on a toe turn and re-dislocated it, but I was able to pop it back in w/o trouble. Not too painful. Maybe not a complete dislocation? Other times this year, steep terrain and powder and throwing my arm up to compensate for a mistake and sharp pain in shoulder (didn't dislocate it then, but sharp pain let me know I was pushing it). Today, in powder, I touched snow briefly to help with a mistake and it dislocated in what appeared to be a minor fashion, popping back in quickly with a roll of the shoulder. Ugh. Does anyone use a brace that helps provide support to dislocated shoulder while helping to limit movements that might lead to dislocation? Thanks in advance for any ideas or input. Best, Lamby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted December 24, 2021 Report Share Posted December 24, 2021 Paging @Algunderfoot! He made a simple strap system using common parts to prevent your arms from separating from your waist. Looked pretty clever and is invisible under a jacket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted December 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2021 Thanks Corey, That simple strap system sounds like the type of thing that might be useful for my situation. I found this brace online - it might help me with support and limiting range of motion: https://www.dme-direct.com/breg-curtis-shoulder-cuff-full-rom-brace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algunderfoot Posted December 26, 2021 Report Share Posted December 26, 2021 Hi Lamby, Yes I have dislocated both shoulders and deal with torn rotator cuffs and while they've gotten better I still wear this strap every day I ride. It simple secures above the bicep(s) and clips to my belt buckle, adjusted to be sure arms cannot get above or behind the shoulder(s). Its comfortable and passive until needed, just unclip for full range of movement. Merry Christmas! Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algunderfoot Posted December 27, 2021 Report Share Posted December 27, 2021 PS, the problem I found with all the braces is that they pull your shoulder into your into your body which becomes uncomfortable / painful quite quickly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kibber Posted December 28, 2021 Report Share Posted December 28, 2021 I know your pain & struggle all too well. My dr in early 90’s had strap idea and I used it for rehab for most of season. What I discovered after three surgeries and both shoulders getting “fixed” is to simply change my hand position from palm facing snow to a soft fist with thumbs-up position. If I suddenly slip a turn, impact goes to forearm and outside arm, not chicken winged.….not as stylish as the surfy carve approach. All best - KD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted December 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2021 Thanks for the photos and input Algunderfoot. Your info that braces tend to pull things in, and that it becomes painful is really good to know. Your strap (sounds like kibber used a similar device during rehab) being a limiter, without being restrictive or trying to pull shoulder in makes sense. \Thanks for your good advice and for relating your long road back KD. It is good to know that while some have a very long and difficult recoveries, that it can be "fixed." I've been wondering about such things. Thanks for giving me some good help vibes all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dropthebody Posted December 29, 2021 Report Share Posted December 29, 2021 On 12/23/2021 at 3:48 PM, lamby said: I dislocated my shoulder last winter and I've re-injured it again a couple times this season. I'm thinking that a shoulder brace that adds some support and some limiting of the range of my arm movement might help. I've been trying to back off and to not drag my hand on toe turns at all. Original injury was on a toe turn and going fast - hand touched man-made snow and stuck in - arm wrenched back on overhead causing dislocation that required trip to hospital. I recovered w/o surgery. This year I fell on a toe turn and re-dislocated it, but I was able to pop it back in w/o trouble. Not too painful. Maybe not a complete dislocation? Other times this year, steep terrain and powder and throwing my arm up to compensate for a mistake and sharp pain in shoulder (didn't dislocate it then, but sharp pain let me know I was pushing it). Today, in powder, I touched snow briefly to help with a mistake and it dislocated in what appeared to be a minor fashion, popping back in quickly with a roll of the shoulder. Ugh. Does anyone use a brace that helps provide support to dislocated shoulder while helping to limit movements that might lead to dislocation? Thanks in advance for any ideas or input. Best, Lamby Take up Archery to regain your strength. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted January 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 On 12/28/2021 at 10:43 PM, dropthebody said: Take up Archery to regain your strength. Good advice. It makes sense that taking up archery would be the perfect approach. I'm on a program called Crossover Symmetry and one of the exercises is called "Archer." I'm pleased with how things are going. I'm building strength and stability and getting out with a brace that limits range of motion in the event of a fall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noobster Posted January 27, 2022 Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 55 minutes ago, lamby said: I'm building strength and stability... Was gonna comment to that end. I would totally nerd out on all things shoulder related like anatomy, strength, range of motion. Certainly consider getting a physical therapist's consultation too. I played competitive tennis for a few decades and my right shoulder got loose and I definitely felt it go out a few times. Now that I'm into calisthenics the problem re-appeared doing tougher skills. Consistent strength training has mitigated almost all the issue. As a new snowboarder (falling a lot but mostly low siding it) the upper body strength has been quite helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnasmo Posted January 28, 2022 Report Share Posted January 28, 2022 I used a Sully brace when I was riding post-op of a major rebuild.https://www.donjoyperformance.com/saunders-sully-shoulder-support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMKW Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 I dislocated my left shoulder mountain biking in 1995. After completing rehab, I never gave it another thought, and had no hint of any issues on the board or any falls etc. Flash forward to Feb 2022, and I'm at the MCC. Third day in, and I'm clearly not as fit, light, strong, flexible, or talented as I remember. But whatever. Except I got behind on a heelside carve, put my left hand down and dislocated my shoulder again. The staff at the hospital were lovely, but what an ordeal! I completed hundreds of hours of rehab. Lost 30lbs, improved my flexibility, strength, and cardio. The shoulder specialist I saw recommended against bracing as, to use his words, they provide a false sense of security, limit motion, and reduce enjoyment. My shoulders go commando, I guess?! Flash forward AGAIN...this time to Feb 2023. By this point, I had 10 days on the snow in the season, and was feeling great. My improved fitness made things so fun. I'd eased myself in and I thought I was out of the woods (please notice foreshadowing). Second run, first day at MCC. Snow was fast, firm, and fun. Briefest touch with left hand on heelside carve, and out goes the shoulder. I don't even remember the touch. It was unbelievable. But I laid facedown, drew left arm across my chest, pushed against snow, and got it back in, so that was lovely (aside from the mollusk-ish sound). But I haven't been on a carving board again since...just messing around w softboots. I'm in the queue to see specialist again, and expect surgery is in my future. I'm not quite back to full strength with it, but it feels pretty good and PT is pleased with state of affairs. So I'm going to try carving again in the coming weeks. I very much appreciate the hand positioning tips above, and may construct one of the harnesses as well. I'm thinking of holding a bungee cord between my hands to keep my errant left hand in front of me. Anyway, thanks for the pointers, and happy to hear any other suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted March 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 1 hour ago, DMKW said: I dislocated my left shoulder mountain biking in 1995. After completing rehab, I never gave it another thought, and had no hint of any issues on the board or any falls etc. Flash forward to Feb 2022, and I'm at the MCC. Third day in, and I'm clearly not as fit, light, strong, flexible, or talented as I remember. But whatever. Except I got behind on a heelside carve, put my left hand down and dislocated my shoulder again. The staff at the hospital were lovely, but what an ordeal! I completed hundreds of hours of rehab. Lost 30lbs, improved my flexibility, strength, and cardio. The shoulder specialist I saw recommended against bracing as, to use his words, they provide a false sense of security, limit motion, and reduce enjoyment. My shoulders go commando, I guess?! Flash forward AGAIN...this time to Feb 2023. By this point, I had 10 days on the snow in the season, and was feeling great. My improved fitness made things so fun. I'd eased myself in and I thought I was out of the woods (please notice foreshadowing). Second run, first day at MCC. Snow was fast, firm, and fun. Briefest touch with left hand on heelside carve, and out goes the shoulder. I don't even remember the touch. It was unbelievable. But I laid facedown, drew left arm across my chest, pushed against snow, and got it back in, so that was lovely (aside from the mollusk-ish sound). But I haven't been on a carving board again since...just messing around w softboots. I'm in the queue to see specialist again, and expect surgery is in my future. I'm not quite back to full strength with it, but it feels pretty good and PT is pleased with state of affairs. So I'm going to try carving again in the coming weeks. I very much appreciate the hand positioning tips above, and may construct one of the harnesses as well. I'm thinking of holding a bungee cord between my hands to keep my errant left hand in front of me. Anyway, thanks for the pointers, and happy to hear any other suggestions! What a bummer! MCC first day - UGH! Sorry to hear that you are dealing with dislocation issues with your shoulder DMKW. I've had an abbreviated season due to my right shoulder dislocation problems (and some other health issues have contributed to limiting my time snowboarding this winter). As mentioned earlier, I've been dealing with my right shoulder problems. The last couple of years have included a number of long time periods of rehab to strengthen and stabilize it. These help so much, but then I seem to re-injure it and am nearly back to square one. Since re-dislocating it at the beginning or last season, and now coming back from other re-injuries of it last summer and fall (and this winter), I am not attempting to carve in the fashion that I used to. I miss railing turns, but I find I'm very vulnerable to reinjuring my shoulder when I am carving my turns. I still have my moments of carving, but they are calcualted and I'm not trying to link a bunch of turns together to the point of fatique or failure. I'm mostly slarving around. Carving at some points of turns, letting it slide out at other points in turns. I'm enjoying it, and we have had a lot of snow, so the powder riding has been great too. (Do have to watch things in pow too - can't throw right arm around as much for balance, especially up over my head - but cuff/brace I wear helps limit those). I recently saw my doctor about my shoulder pain/dislocations/separation issues. He referred me to a surgeon (second I've seen) who ran me through an exam where he tested my range of motion and strength and such. He was perplexed, as my range of motion and stability test well. He ordered a series of 4 xrays and an MRI. Those came back and surgeon's interpretation is that he could preform surgury that would help with stability, but that my shoulder doesn't really appear that unstable to him. He said he would be afraid that a tightening might result in a condition where I found it too tight. As to the pain I am experiencing - there appears to be a tear in my labrum, but surgeon said he did not think he could do much for my pain. He is having me do physical therapy for 8 weeks and told me to go about my regular activities. I will see surgeon again, in a few weeks, for a follow up. I'm experiencing some pain with certain moves while snowboarding (or doing other things). I use Breg Curtis cuff to limit range of motion of the arm/shoulder while snowboarding (neoprene brace makes any garment too hot, cheaply made, expensive). Cuff does help limit me from throwing my arm over my head, but seems less limiting in keeping me from throwing my arm forcefully outward at chest level (which is another pain trigger). I've broken some of the straps and the metal clasps on the cuff/brace are cheap, but it seems to be giving me some help in limiting my range of motion while snowboarding. Good luck with your shoulder DMKW. Heal fast! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertrash Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Ugh, seems popular to do at MCC. I did it last year on the 2nd day. Friggin guy told me to take a toe side clinic! Thanks for the advice, bub! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMKW Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 HA! If I only ever did toe side turns, I'd probably be just fine... Heelside shmeel side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dredman Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 1 hour ago, trailertrash said: Friggin guy told me to take a toe side clinic! Well did you make it to the clinic? Hope your shoulder is doing better! Hope to see you and the East Coast carvers back at MCC in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertrash Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 3 hours ago, dredman said: Well did you make it to the clinic? Hope your shoulder is doing better! Hope to see you and the East Coast carvers back at MCC in the future. I've got work to do but they're improving for sure. Actually, I focused on keeping my right elbow tucked in, kind of like what the strap post above would do. No more extending my arm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted April 28, 2023 Report Share Posted April 28, 2023 To minimise the risk of shoulder dislocation one has to minimise the risk a hand/forearm touching the snow & CATCHING while the rest of the rider moves on past at whatever speed. Now I wonder how you might make a hand less likely to catch the snow? Hmmmm...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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