Physical Therapy after Rotator Cuff Surgery

Shoulder pain is not an uncommon issue; in fact, it's one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions that people experience. This is because the shoulder consists of four different joints along with numerous muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones, which means that there's plenty of ways that you can injure this area. One of the most common types of shoulder injuries is the rotator cuff injury.

What is a Rotator Cuff Injury?

The rotator cuff consists of four muscles along with their tendons, which connect the arm bone to the shoulder blade. Its purpose is to keep the arm bone within the shoulder socket whenever you make normal arm motions. Rotator cuff injuries can occur due to a number of reasons, such as from the impact of a fall or to repeated irritations to the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff caused by throwing, lifting or reaching overhead.

A rotator cuff will often cause pain at the top of the shoulder as well as down the side of the arm. It can also result in pain when you move your shoulder. A diagnosis can be made following several movement tests.

Rotator Cuff Physical Therapy

In some cases, surgery to repair the rotator cuff is not necessary. A tear or strain can be treated with six to eight weeks of physical therapy, complimented by non-surgical treatments. It is only when a significant tear occurs that you will likely need to have it surgically repaired. If you do undergo surgery to repair your torn tendons or muscles, then it will take up to four months to completely heal.

You will need to participate in postoperative physical therapy following surgery to your rotator cuff. During physical therapy, you will be given exercises to do that will help you to regain the normal function and strength of your shoulder. In fact, even if you've been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and it's suggested that you undergo surgery, you can still do physical therapy beforehand. Doing physical therapy before your surgery can help improve the surgery's outcome and can make it easier to recover afterward.

If you've injured your rotator cuff, then you should consider physical therapy to help restore your shoulder's function, whether you require rotator cuff surgery or not. For more information on rotator cuff physical therapy or to schedule an appointment, be sure to contact us at Advanced Motion Therapeutic today.