For avid skiers, the road to recovery from shoulder surgery can be challenging, but with the right guidance and dedication, you can safely get back to the sport. Dr. William Sterett, a seasoned shoulder dislocation doctor at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, is committed to helping patients regain strength, stability, and confidence in their shoulders.

Whether you choose ACL repair or ACL reconstruction, selecting a surgeon with a deep understanding of the demands placed on a skier’s knee is crucial. With decades of expertise treating athletes, Dr. William Sterett provides comprehensive care that prioritizes your long-term health and skiing aspirations.

Shoulder instability occurs when the structures that hold the shoulder joint together—muscles, tendons, and ligaments—are weakened or damaged. In swimmers, this typically happens due to the repetitive overhead motions involved in their strokes. Over time, these motions place stress on the shoulder joint, potentially causing it to become loose or even dislocate. Instability can result in pain, weakness, and limited range of motion, all of which can affect a swimmer’s performance.

CrossFit often involves explosive movements like jumping, squatting, and cutting—all of which can put stress on the knees. The rapid changes in direction and high-impact landings in some workouts increase the risk of an ACL tear, especially if your knee isn’t adequately supported by surrounding muscles.

An ACL tear can be a daunting injury for football players, but with the right treatment and a dedicated approach to recovery, athletes can return to the field stronger and more resilient. Dr. Sterett's expertise in ACL injuries provides athletes with the tools they need to navigate their recovery journey and return to the sport they love.

Understanding the cause of your shoulder pain is the first step to a full recovery. Working with a sports medicine specialist like Dr. Sterett ensures a tailored treatment plan that addresses the specific injury and your unique needs as an athlete.

Shoulder instability occurs when the structures surrounding the shoulder joint no longer keep the ball within its socket, leading to frequent shoulder dislocations or a feeling that the shoulder might give out. This condition can result from a traumatic injury, repetitive strain, or congenital factors.

ACL reconstruction is a widely performed surgery that helps restore stability and function to a knee with a torn ACL. However, you might wonder if there's a risk of developing arthritis after ACL surgery. While the goal is to get you back to your pre-injury activities, sometimes arthritis can sneak in after the procedure.

Dr. Sterett explains, “Dancers often perform movements that place immense stress on the knee. These repetitive stresses, combined with the need for flexibility and strength, make the ACL susceptible to tears.”

Dr. Sterett explains, “Children’s bones are still growing, which means their ligaments, tendons, and muscles are also developing. This makes their growth plates more vulnerable to injuries, including ACL tears.”

The question, "can a dislocated shoulder cause a rotator cuff tear?" is often asked by patients. The answer is yes. The force that dislocates the shoulder can indeed cause a tear in the rotator cuff.

The question, "can a dislocated shoulder cause a rotator cuff tear?" is often asked by patients. The answer is yes. The force that dislocates the shoulder can indeed cause a tear in the rotator cuff.

"Biking can be a valuable addition to a runner's training regimen as it provides a low-impact alternative that reduces the repetitive stress on the knees," states Dr. Sterett.

OK, you’ve gotten over the shock of tearing your ACL, concluded that you should have surgery, and now your surgeon wants your input on what he should use to replace your ACL. But it feels like he is speaking a different language. Lets go over some of the lingo.

“In fact, athletes in many sports that meet criteria for being loose jointed are more than four times more likely to tear their ACL than athletes that are not loose jointed,” states Dr. Sterett.

Dr. Sterett advises, "By diversifying training activities, runners can reduce the strain on specific muscle groups and joints, thereby minimizing the risk of overuse injuries.”

Dr. Sterett explains, "Knee popping can arise from harmless, physiological mechanism. Common causes of knee popping encompasses a variety of factors. Soft tissue interactions, such as the movement of tendons, ligaments, or menisci can produce audible popping sensations.”

Dr. Sterett states, "Shoulder popping may originate from dynamic interactions between the bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage within the joint”

Dr. Sterett explains that, “Knee dislocations have the potential to cause arthritis, primarily due to the significant trauma and damage to the joint structures.” Knee dislocations occur when the bones of the knee joint are forced out of alignment, often as a result of high-impact accidents or sports injury.

Dr. Sterett explains, “The most common direction for a shoulder dislocation is anteriorly – where the upper arm bone pops out of the shoulder socket towards the front of the body. This type of dislocation, known as an anterior shoulder dislocation, accounts for approximately 95% of all shoulder dislocations.”