An optimal treatment for traumatic anterior shoulder instability (TASI) remains to be identified. A shoulder instability neuromuscular exercise (SINEX) program has been designed for patients with TASI, but has not yet been tested in patients eligible for surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate the feasibility and safety of the SINEX program for patients diagnosed with TASI and eligible for surgery.

A feasibility study with an experimental, longitudinal design using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Participants undergo the SINEX program, a twelve week exercise program including physiotherapist supervised sessions. Feasibility data on recruitment, retention, compliance, acceptability and safety was collected through observation and individual semi-structured interviews. Clinical tests and self-report questionnaires were completed at baseline and 12 weeks follow-up. Clinical assessments included apprehension and relocation tests, shoulder joint position sense (SJPS), shoulder sensorimotor control measured by center of pressure path length (COPL) on a force platform, isometric strength measured by Constant Score - Isometric Maximal Voluntary Contraction (CS-iMVC), self-report questionnaires included Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and Global Perceived Effect questionnaire (GPE).

Inclusion Criteria:

• men and women, between 16 and 45 years of age, minimum one traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation diagnosed with TASI, eligible for stabilizing Bankart surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• complex shoulder injuries not suitable for a Bankart procedure as determined by an orthopedic surgeon, insufficient Norwegian language skills, and/or not being able to participate in a supervised exercise program