Abstract: BACKGROUND: Latissimus dorsi, grade III tendon tears are an
uncommon injury. There are very few cases reported in the literature, but
most importantly, no cases could be found that relate to soccer. OBJECTIVE: To present a successful, non-operative rehabilitation
program for a professional athlete, after a grade III latissimus dorsi tear. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 37 year old healthy, elite professional soccer
goalkeeper was injured during a championship game. The athlete fell on his
left side with an outstretched and externally rotated upper extremity in
order to catch a ball that was going very close to the left pole of his
goal-post. After on-field and off-field clinical examinations, the diagnosis
was a left latissimus dorsi tendon tear which was later confirmed by MRI as
a grade III tear. INTERVENTION: During the first two weeks, intervention consisted of
anti-inflammatory treatment and light therapeutic exercises. As the pain was
subsiding and the strength was returning, the treatment shifted to purely
strengthening and functional training. RESULTS: Four weeks after the injury, the athlete presented with
pain 0/10 in all functional activities and full ROM in both active and
passive movements. Before discharge, the athlete underwent a sport specific
training program, without any complains, that cleared him to participate in
normal training with the rest of the team. Three months after the injury the
strength of the player's left shoulder was 5/5 in all movements. CONCLUSION: The protocol used yielded an accelerated return to
sport (soccer) and function compared with other published research after a
grade III latissimus dorsi tendon tear. One year later, the goalkeeper was
still playing in the same competitive level without any re-injuries or
complains, which means that this treatment protocol withstood the test of
time.
Keywords: Grade III latissimus dorsi tear, latissimus dorsi tear in soccer, physical therapy after latissimus dorsi tear, latissimus dorsi tear rehabilitation, latissimus dorsi tear in football
