Edel Fanning, PhD — Shoulder Rehabilitation Specialist & Expert Educator
Dr. Edel Fanning is an internationally recognised physiotherapist and leading expert in shoulder rehabilitation, with over 15 years of clinical experience working with elite athletes and complex upper limb injuries. She specialises in the assessment and rehabilitation of shoulder dysfunction, particularly in contact sports and overhead athletes.
Edel holds a PhD from University College Cork, where her research focused on return-to-play decision-making following shoulder stabilisation surgery. Her work integrates 3D biomechanical analysis and advanced functional testing to support safe and effective rehabilitation strategies for athletes returning to high-performance sport.
For over a decade, Edel led the Upper Limb Rehabilitation Service at the renowned Sports Surgery Clinic (SSC) in Dublin. During this time, she developed evidence-based rehabilitation protocols and contributed to groundbreaking research on shoulder instability, dislocation, and performance optimisation in elite sports.
Today, Edel is the founder of Sports Shoulder Performance Rehab, where she provides specialist consultancy to professional sports teams, delivers CPD education, and mentors clinicians worldwide. She is passionate about sharing her expertise to help physiotherapists and manual therapists enhance their clinical reasoning and confidently manage complex shoulder presentations.
Edel is also a respected international speaker and educator. She regularly presents at conferences and teaches courses on shoulder biomechanics, rehabilitation strategies, and injury prevention. Edel delivers "The Sporting Shoulder" course, empowering healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based approaches to shoulder assessment and rehabilitation.
Specialist Areas:
- Shoulder rehabilitation and return-to-play strategies
- Upper limb biomechanics in sport
- Management of shoulder instability and dislocation
- Athlete-focused rehabilitation protocols
- Education and mentorship for physiotherapists and healthcare providers
With a dynamic teaching style and deep commitment to clinical excellence, Edel helps physiotherapists transform their approach to shoulder care and achieve better outcomes for their patients.