Recovery Timeline Illustration Briefs — Shoulder

Overview

This file collects illustration briefs for the five recovery timeline infographics in InjuryAtlas: rotator cuff tear, shoulder impingement, frozen shoulder, shoulder dislocation, and AC joint injury. Every brief follows the same consistent visual style: clean, modern medical illustration, matte-clay 3D rendering style consistent with the InjuryAtlas 3D model, soft studio lighting, a neutral warm-grey background (#F0EDE8), a teal/blue highlight color (#2A9D8F) for the structure of interest, no faces or identifying features, a gender-neutral body, and labels set in clean sans-serif type (Inter or similar).

Each brief covers a recovery timeline infographic showing the typical phases of recovery, always framed as ranges and as "typical" rather than absolute, consistent with the style guide's rule on recovery timelines.

Rotator Cuff Tear — Recovery Timeline Infographic

• Subject: A horizontal timeline infographic with four to five connected phase blocks, each containing a small icon and a simplified shoulder illustration showing the level of activity typical for that phase.
• Camera angle/pose: Flat, front-facing infographic layout; each phase icon uses a small lateral-view shoulder illustration at consistent scale.
• Highlighted structures: Rotator cuff tendon in teal/blue within each phase icon, shown progressively more "settled" (less inflamed rendering) as the timeline advances.
• Phases to depict: "Acute/protective phase (typically first 1-2 weeks)," "Early motion phase (typically weeks 2-6)," "Strengthening phase (typically weeks 6-12)," "Return-to-activity phase (typically 3-6 months, longer for surgical repair)."
• Labels needed: Phase names and typical duration ranges, each explicitly marked "typical" or "usually"; a small footnote reminding readers that timelines vary by tear severity and treatment approach (conservative vs. surgical).
• Mood/purpose: Encouraging and realistic — the progression should visually communicate steady improvement without implying a guaranteed or fixed schedule.

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome — Recovery Timeline Infographic

• Subject: A horizontal timeline infographic with three to four connected phase blocks, each with a small icon showing the subacromial space and a simplified activity-level indicator.
• Camera angle/pose: Flat, front-facing infographic layout; each phase icon uses a small coronal cross-section illustration of the subacromial space at consistent scale.
• Highlighted structures: Subacromial space and tendon in teal/blue within each icon, shown with progressively less crowding/compression as the timeline advances.
• Phases to depict: "Symptom management phase (typically first 1-2 weeks)," "Mobility and posture phase (typically weeks 2-6)," "Strengthening phase (typically weeks 4-12)," "Full return to overhead activity (typically 6-12 weeks, longer if symptoms are longstanding)."
• Labels needed: Phase names and typical duration ranges, each marked "typical" or "usually"; a footnote noting that posture and scapular strength influence how quickly someone progresses.
• Mood/purpose: Practical and reassuring, since impingement is one of the more common and generally favorable-outcome shoulder conditions.

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) — Recovery Timeline Infographic

• Subject: A horizontal timeline infographic with three connected phase blocks, each with a small icon showing the joint capsule and a simplified range-of-motion indicator (an arc showing how much the arm can move).
• Camera angle/pose: Flat, front-facing infographic layout; each phase icon uses a small anterior three-quarter joint illustration with a motion arc overlay.
• Highlighted structures: Joint capsule in teal/blue within each icon, shown progressively less thickened/restricted as the timeline advances; the motion arc widens with each phase.
• Phases to depict: "Freezing phase (typically 2-9 months, pain-dominant, motion decreasing)," "Frozen phase (typically 4-12 months, stiffness-dominant, pain often easing)," "Thawing phase (typically 6-24 months, motion gradually returning)."
• Labels needed: Phase names and typical duration ranges, explicitly marked "typical" or "usually," with a clear footnote that this condition's total timeline is notably longer and more variable than other shoulder conditions and can take one to three years overall.
• Mood/purpose: Patient and reassuring — this is the longest and most variable recovery timeline in the module, so the tone should emphasize that slow, gradual improvement is normal and expected, not a sign that something is wrong.

Shoulder Dislocation — Recovery Timeline Infographic

• Subject: A horizontal timeline infographic with four connected phase blocks, each with a small icon showing the glenohumeral joint and a simplified sling/support indicator where relevant.
• Camera angle/pose: Flat, front-facing infographic layout; each phase icon uses a small anterior-view joint illustration at consistent scale.
• Highlighted structures: Glenohumeral joint in teal/blue within each icon, shown centered and stable from the first phase onward (post-reduction), with surrounding soft tissue shown progressively less inflamed across phases.
• Phases to depict: "Immediate post-reduction/protection phase (typically first 1-3 weeks, often in a sling)," "Early motion phase (typically weeks 3-6)," "Strengthening and stability phase (typically weeks 6-12)," "Return to full activity, including sport (typically 3-6 months, longer if surgery was needed)."
• Labels needed: Phase names and typical duration ranges, marked "typical" or "usually"; a footnote noting that recurrence risk and timeline both depend heavily on age and activity level.
• Mood/purpose: Reassuring but grounded, acknowledging that this injury can feel dramatic at the time while showing that most people recover a stable, functional shoulder.

AC Joint Injury — Recovery Timeline Infographic

• Subject: A horizontal timeline infographic with three to four connected phase blocks, each with a small icon showing the AC joint and a simplified activity-level indicator.
• Camera angle/pose: Flat, front-facing infographic layout; each phase icon uses a small anterior-superior three-quarter joint illustration at consistent scale.
• Highlighted structures: AC joint in teal/blue within each icon, shown with the degree of visible "step-off" easing slightly across phases for lower-grade injuries (the illustration should note that higher-grade separations may not fully resolve visually, even when function returns).
• Phases to depict: "Acute/protective phase (typically first 1-2 weeks)," "Early motion phase (typically weeks 2-4)," "Strengthening phase (typically weeks 4-8)," "Return to full activity (typically 6-12 weeks for lower-grade sprains, longer if surgery was needed for higher-grade separations)."
• Labels needed: Phase names and typical duration ranges, marked "typical" or "usually"; a footnote distinguishing lower-grade sprains (faster recovery) from higher-grade separations (slower, sometimes surgical).
• Mood/purpose: Clear and reassuring, emphasizing that most AC joint injuries are lower-grade and recover well with conservative care.

References

• Sanford Health. "Anterior Glenohumeral Dislocation Rehabilitation Guideline." https://www.sanfordhealth.org/-/media/org/files/medical-professionals/resources-and-education/anterior-gh-dislocation.pdf
• Mayo Clinic. "Frozen shoulder — Diagnosis and treatment." https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372349
• Mayo Clinic Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. "Tips to help a frozen shoulder." https://sportsmedicine.mayoclinic.org/news/tips-to-help-a-frozen-shoulder/
• OrthoInfo (AAOS). "Rotator Cuff Tears." https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/rotator-cuff-tears/
• OrthoInfo (AAOS). "Shoulder Dislocation." https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/shoulder-dislocation/
• OrthoInfo (AAOS). "Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injuries (Separated Shoulder)." https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/acromioclavicular-ac-joint-injuries-separated-shoulder/
• JOSPT. "An Update of Systematic Reviews Examining the Effectiveness of Conservative Physical Therapy Interventions for Subacromial Shoulder Pain." https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2020.8498