Neurocognitive Loading Following Anterior Shoulder Stabilization: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Rationale Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation frequently compromises mechanical tissue stability and alters the sensorimotor pathways by damaging mechanoreceptors and articular proprioceptors. While surgical stabilization methods (e.g., arthroscopic Bankart repair, Latarjet, or remplissage techniques) restore structural integrity, residual deficits in glenohumeral proprioception and neuromuscular rotator cuff control often persist long after surgery. Standard postoperative rehabilitation paradigms primarily emphasize repetitive, single-task motor exercises in highly predictable clinical settings. However, when patients transition back to real-world environments or competitive sports where cognitive and visual demands are high, optimal motor control can fail, escalating the risk of re-injury.

This study utilizes an innovative neurocognitive rehabilitation model designed to bridge the gap between isolated motor performance and complex real-world demands. By adding dual-task training that pairs motor stabilization exercises with explicit cognitive and visual-reactive tasks, this intervention aims to optimize neural resource allocation, enhance motor learning retention, and accelerate safe return-to-sport preparation.

Randomization and Stratification Participants are assessed at the 10th postoperative day and randomly assigned via sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes to either the experimental group (Neurocognitive Loading) or the control group (Standard Shoulder Rehabilitation). Randomization is stratified based on biological sex and the specific surgical technique used by the orthopedic surgeon to ensure balanced group distributions.

Rehabilitation Framework Both groups undergo an aligned, progressive exercise protocol structured into specific postoperative phases. Following 10 days of absolute joint immobilization, supervised treatment sessions are conducted twice weekly for the first 12 weeks, and once weekly from weeks 13 through 16, supplemented by a structured 4-day-a-week home exercise program. Progression within the physical therapy timeline balances tissue healing constraints with the incremental advancement of mechanical load, moving from passive and active-assisted range of motion to targeted rotator cuff strengthening and scapular stabilization.

Neurocognitive Progression Model

The experimental group executes the exact same physical protocol as the control group but integrates simultaneous neurocognitive loading during all proprioceptive and dynamic stabilization exercises. The cognitive load is applied via a multi-pod wireless reaction light system (BlazePod) and structured cognitive tasks using the healthy, uninjured limb to interact with the stimuli. The progression of the cognitive workload is directly mapped to Aleksandr Luria's "Functional Units of the Brain" model and the Fitts & Posner motor learning stages to systematically shift neurological processing from primitive attention to higher-order executive functioning:

Weeks 3-4 (Cognitive Stage / Unit I - Arousal & Selective Attention): Focuses on basic visual-reactive triggers. Participants respond to a single random light pod to reinforce alert orientation and basic motor planning.

Weeks 5-6 (Associative Stage / Unit II - Information Processing & Inhibition): Introduces selective multi-color triggers. Participants are instructed to react strictly to a designated target color while actively ignoring a distractor color (Response Inhibition).

Weeks 7-8 (Associative Stage / Unit II - Visuospatial Mapping): Integrates color-position rules where participants must process the physical location of the stimulus and match it to an abstract response rule.

Weeks 9-12 (Transition to Autonomous Stage / Unit III - Working Memory & Go/No-Go Executive Processing): Incorporates sequential memory strings (reproducing a multi-pod lighting pattern in correct serial order) and rapid executive Go/No-Go switching rules.

Weeks 13-16 (Autonomous Stage / Unit III - Complex Cognitive Conflict Resolution): Focuses on high-tier hierarchical decisions under environmental conflict (e.g., instructions requiring a response to a specific target color unless it appears in a forbidden physical zone) to simulate complex athletic scenarios.

Progress Management Rules

To safeguard healing tissues and manage neurological adaptation, progression is strictly monitored. Exercises are adjusted using explicit performance error metrics:

Optimal Progression: Achieving a cognitive/motor task accuracy rate of age 80% with only 1 to 2 minor coordination faults justifies advancing the exercise difficulty.

Regressive Calibration: Committing 3> coordination faults or demonstrating a single severe compensatory movement failure requires an immediate step down to a simpler stimulus level (e.g., reducing lighting colors, slowing target velocity, or stabilizing the physical support base).