Case Report: Post-Operative Repair of Pec Major

The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy will sometimes publish really good case-reports covering the rehab of an injury. Having gone through surgery myself, I feel these scholarly published case reports can be a great resource. For anyone who might be undergoing similar musculoskeletal injuries or surgeries, these case reports can be helpful in forming expectations and increasing understanding of those challenging recoveries. That being said, everyone’s rehab is different. Your recovery time may not be the same as someone elses. Rehab and recovery is highly multi-factorial and every patient should be treated as an individual. Nonetheless, I have provided you with the key points from a recently published article, “Rehabilitation After Surgical Treatment Of Pectoralis Major Rupture In A CrossFit Practitioner: A Case Report.” Full disclosure, I have nothing against CrossFit. As a sports physical therapist, I see injuries happen in all sports, and I fully support all sports and training styles when done safely.

This case report reviews a complete rupture of the sternal portion of the left pec major tendon in a cross fit athlete. Here are the key points of the successful recovery:

·      Physical therapy began 3 weeks after surgery, initially at 3 times a week

·      Scar tissue mobility was an early goal accomplished through scar mobilization

·      Passive range of motion began in weeks 3-4 post-op

·      Active range of motion and strengthening began after week 4

·      Full shoulder extension, internal rotation, and external rotation returned in week 6

·      Full shoulder flexion and abduction returned in week 7

·      Discharged from physical therapy after 16 weeks, muscles were ~85% strength compared to the non-injured side

If you’re a CrossFit athlete or a competitive weightlifter, come see us for a sport-specific maintenance program! If you’ve had an injury or looking for a preventative program, our sports performance rehab can keep you performing at your best!

Reference: da Silva LG, Ferrer RM, de Souza JR Jr, Gracitelli MEC, Secchi LLB. Rehabilitation After Surgical Treatment of Pectoralis Major Rupture in a CrossFit® Practitioner: A Case Report. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Jun 1;17(4):724-731.