What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulde
r Injury? (Live Podcast Recording)

Presented by Lenny Macrina and Phil Plisky

What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulder Injury? (Live Podcast Recording)

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Rehab and Performance Lab: What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulder Injury (Episode 20) (Live Podcast Recording)

Audio Runtime: 74 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes

This course is a recording of a previously hosted live webinar event. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from those of standard Medbridge courses.

Struggling with complex shoulder cases? Bridge the gap from research to reality and get real-world answers in this special live podcast recording with experts Phil Plisky and Lenny Macrina. Building on our earlier episode, “How Do We Untangle the Evidence Around Shoulder Rehabilitation and Surgery?”, this interactive session will focus on practical strategies for restoring shoulder function—from immediate post-injury or surgery through return to throwing. In this live podcast recording, you’ll not only hear expert insights on topics such as arthrogenic muscle inhibition in the shoulder, timing of post-surgical strength testing, considerations for overhead athletes, and balancing the delicate art of restoring ROM after stabilization surgery without compromising the repair. Also, you’ll have the opportunity to submit your own questions in real time. Whether you’re curious about blood flow restriction for shoulder rehab, return-to-throwing progressions, or top clinical takeaways, this conversation is designed to provide actionable strategies you can bring directly into your practice.

Learning Objectives
  • Analyze the evidence around strength loss and testing after shoulder injury/surgery
  • Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address shoulder instability
  • Solve patient case scenarios involving return to physical activities such as weightlifting and throwing

This is an audio-only course. Additional materials are available for download within the course. To receive continuing education credit, complete the course and the accompanying quiz.

Meet your instructors

A smiling man in a black shirt stands in front of a blurred backdrop.

Lenny Macrina

Leonard (Lenny) Macrina is the cofounder and director of physical therapy at Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Waltham, Massachusetts. He received his master’s degree in physical therapy from Boston University. He has been teaching continuing education courses on shoulder rehabilitation and presenting at…

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A person in a dark polo shirt smiles against a wavy white background.

Phil Plisky

Dr. Phil Plisky is a professor in the University of Evansville’s Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Health Professions Education programs. He is the host of the Medbridge Rehab and Performance Lab podcast and founder of the Coaches Club at

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Chapters & learning objectives

What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulder Injury? (Live Podcast Recording)

1. What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulder Injury? (Live Podcast Recording)

Experts Phil Plisky and Lenny Macrina dive into the complexities of shoulder rehabilitation, bridging research and real-world practice. Building on their earlier discussion of shoulder surgery and rehab, they share practical strategies for restoring function—from early post-injury or postsurgical care through return to throwing—offering evidence-based insights you can apply immediately in your clinical decision-making.

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What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulder Injury? (Live Podcast Recording)

What’s the Smartest Path Back After Shoulder Injury? (Live Podcast Recording)

Lenny Macrina and Phil Plisky