Rehabilitation exercise program after surgical treatment of pectoralis major rupture. A case report.

OBJECTIVE: To present a rehabilitation exercise program and suggest a schedule of activities for daily living and participation in sports after surgical treatment of a pectoralis major rupture.

DESIGN: A single case study.

SETTING: Hospital-based study, Thessaloniki, Greece.

PARTICIPANTS: We present a 30-year-old male athlete (height, 196 cm; weight, 90 kg; right hand dominant) with a complete rupture of the pectoralis major tendon after a fall.

REHABILITATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: The athlete received a post-operative rehabilitation exercise program for 16 weeks. During the program, there was a gradual increase in the exercise program regime and load across the sessions according to the specific case demands.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Shoulder function was evaluated using Constant score.

RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis and the patient had surgical treatment repairing-reattaching the tendon back to its insertion using a bone anchor. At the end of the rehabilitation exercise program, the patient had full range of movement, normal muscle power and a return back to his previous level of athletic activities achieved.

CONCLUSIONS: Post-operatively, a progressive rehabilitation protocol contributed to the patients' full recovery and allowed an early return to activities of daily living and participation in sports.