Did you know, not all rotator cuff tears require surgery?

Some patients with smaller tears can recover full function with rehabilitation and avoid surgery. The size of the tear is just one factor used to determine the need for surgery. 

 

 

Rotator Cuff  tendonitis typically occurs from overuse. However degenerative changes in the shoulder joint and cuff can also be a cause. The rotator cuff is made up of 4 muscles (see picture below) that surround the head of the humerus (arm bone). It functions to move the shoulder and arm in many directions, especially rotation for reaching overhead and behind your back. It also helps to stabilize the shoulder for activities such as throwing and reaching away from the body. Injuries to the rotator cuff usually causes pain in the front or side of the shoulder and can even refer down the arm.

Some patients experience a painful "catch" when raising their arm overhead or behind. Most patients with this diagnosis report increased pain at night and difficulty sleeping.

 

Research has shown that physical therapy can be very effective for this condition. Various modalities such as ultrasound or electric stimulation may be employed. More importantly are the exercises that are prescribed. Exercises that address range of motion loss as well as strengthening weakened muscles of the cuff are prescribed and modified throughout an individuals treatment program. The exercises shown below are examples of some of the exercises that could be used to treat shoulder tendonitis.They are not intended to be a substitution for medical care.

 

Use of a light resistance band early on is less stressful on the healing tissue and allows for progression to heavier resistance as you improve. One to two sets of 10 repetitions 3 times per week is prescribed at first .

 

   

 External Rotation Start        External Rotation Finish
 

 

   

        Abduction Start                   Abduction Finish   

 

    

 Pull Down/Back Start

 

      

  Pull Down/Back Finish

                     
                                                                                       

We want our newsletter to be specific to the needs of our clients. We would like your help to do this. Please feel free to email any requests for specific topics to be addressed or questions you might have regarding physical therapy and we will do our best to address them in upcoming newsletters. Email requests to ptrotterdam@aol.com attn. Kevin