SHOULDER REHABILITATION AND RETURN-TO-PLAY
RUGBY
BUILD STRONG SHOULDERS.
REDUCE RISK.
KEEP YOUNG PLAYERS PLAYING.
Shoulders injuries are one of the most common and disruptive problems across all levels of rugby.
Dynamic Shoulders has collaborated with leading Shoulder Specialist Physiotherapist Dr Edel Fanning to develop evidence-based resources designed specifically for the demands of rugby.
While shoulder injuries affect players at every level, early shoulder instability and dislocations in youth rugby can set players on a long-term trajectory of recurring injury.
COMING SOON
We're creating a number of shoulder rehabilitation and reconditioning resources for rugby players who want to train hard, hit harder, and play the game they love.
THE CHALLENGE IN RUGBY
Shoulder injuries are the among the most common injuries in rugby.
Shoulder instability and dislocations lead to significant time lost from play.
Many players return without sport-specific shoulder preparation.
Traditional strength training often misses key shoulder stability demands.
Youth players who dislocate early face a much higher recurrence risk.
Without targeted intervention, shoulder injuries can become repeat problems that follow players throughout their rugby careers.
OUR AIM
This collaboration is focused on improving shoulder resilience across rugby while prioritising prevention in developing players. We're developing:
Rugby-specific shoulder injury prevention resources
Youth rugby shoulder resilience guidance
Screening and performance testing insights
Strength and conditioning recommendations for rugby
Education for coaches, physios and support staff
Practical implementation tools for teams and clubs
DR EDEL FANNING
Dr Edel Fanning is a Shoulder Specialist Physiotherapist and founder of Sports Shoulder Performance Rehab, with over 15 years of experience treating shoulder injuries.
She has worked with athletes across multiple sports, including rugby, football, GAA, UFC, boxing, gymnastics, and tennis, with a particular focus on contact and collision sports.
Previously, she was Lead Upper Limb Physiotherapist at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin and also worked as a Shoulder Specialist Physiotherapist within the NHS. Edel holds a PhD from University College Cork, where her research focuses on 3D biomechanics and performance testing to guide return-to-sport decisions.
Through her clinical work and research, she is passionate about improving shoulder health and reducing repeat instability, particularly in young contact sport athletes.
TIM STEVENSON
When Tim dislocated his shoulder for the fifth time playing rugby having returned to the sport he loved following a second surgery, he knew that the standard approach to shoulder rehabilitation he’d been given wasn’t enough to prepare him for his return to a high impact sport like rugby.
This is the same story for rugby players everywhere.
Despite trying to rehab a shoulder they:
Still lack confidence in contact areas.
Still feel weakness or vulnerable when tackling.
Still try to protect their shoulder sub-consciously.
Still not playing the way they know they can.
These are all the reasons that Tim used his 17 years of elite strength and conditioning experience and his personal journey with shoulder injury and created Dynamic Shoulders.
