Thermal capsular shrinkage in the throwing athlete.

The role of thermal capsular shrinkage in treating various forms of pathology continues to evolve. The addition of thermal capsular shrinkage to the treatment regimen of standard pathologies in the thrower's shoulder has increased the rate of return to play even at the highest levels. Our data indicate an approximate 20% improvement in the rate of return to play with the addition of thermal capsular shrinkage to traditional treatments. These data represent relatively short-term follow-up. Longer duration of follow-up and increased numbers of patients will further enable us to make recommendations regarding the future use of this technology. As our understanding of the pathology that occurs in the thrower's shoulder continues to improve, so too will our understanding of the effect of applying thermal energy to the joint capsule.