| If you're a senior citizen or an athlete, you've probably | | | | times rotator injuries come about from quick and |
| had to deal with a sharp, excruciating pain in your | | | | drastic movements with the shoulder. Before you do |
| upper shoulder whenever you raise your arms or rest | | | | any strenuous activity, warm-up your shoulder to keep |
| on them. Chances are that you're probably suffering | | | | it supple and flexible. Also, don't overextend yourself, if |
| from a rotator cuff injury. While there are surgical | | | | there something you're unable to do yourself, ask for |
| procedures to alleviate the pain, there are also several | | | | assistance, or try something else. I know it's a common |
| exercises and preventative measures to do before | | | | sense suggestion, but many believe they're still young |
| considering costly surgery. | | | | guns and try to pull of activities they know they |
| First of, what is the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a | | | | probably shouldn't. |
| sleeve formed around the shoulder holding the head of | | | | Here some suggestions and exercise you can do to |
| the humerus (the bone of the upper arm) to the | | | | help your condition if you are having issues: |
| glenoid fossa (the grove where the humerus rests on | | | | - When exercising or playing sports, avoid activities |
| your shoulder). This sleeve is formed by the tendons | | | | that place your elbows behind your shoulders. |
| of the four muscles of the shoulder: the supraspinatus, | | | | - If you have just begun to experience pain, have |
| infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapuraris. | | | | some R.I.C.E: Rest the joint, put some Ice, Compress |
| Problems with the rotator cuff arise from inflammation | | | | the area, and keep it Elevated. |
| of the tendons or the bursae, or tears in the tendon. | | | | - Take anti-inflammatory and pain relief medicines |
| The pain involved comes from the pinching of nerves | | | | (asprin, naproxen, ibuprofen) |
| against the bones of the shoulder by the inflammation | | | | - Strengthen your rotator cuff with targeted exercises |
| of the tendons (tendinitis) or the bursae (bursitis) on the | | | | and stretches. Lateral dumb-bell raises, seated rowing, |
| nerves. Symptoms include: pain/discomfort in the | | | | and shoulder adduction are all exercises that |
| shoulder, especially when pressure and weight are | | | | strengthen the muscles of the region. Just don't over |
| applied, pain when arm is lifted away from the body or | | | | do it. You should, in any case, see a doctor if the |
| overhead. | | | | problems persists. If the problem continues to persist |
| They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of | | | | for 6-12 months, surgery might be needed. |
| a cure. The same applies to rotator cuff injuries. Often | | | | |