| Exercise and torn rotator cuff goes hand in hand to | | | | physiotherapy. |
| achieve a pain free shoulder. Are you experiencing | | | | Proper conditioning |
| persistent aches and sharp pain in the shoulder or | | | | The key to preventing injury is the proper conditioning |
| upper arm? Unable to reach up for those cereals in | | | | of the shoulders prior to rigorous activities. Without the |
| the cupboard or maybe you cannot sleep at night | | | | proper conditioning exercises, muscles and tendons |
| because of shoulder pain? | | | | could easily be torn and injured. Prevention and |
| If you answered yes to one of these questions, you | | | | awareness is the best strategy to avoid injuries. |
| might be suffering from a rotator cuff injury. This | | | | Know the proper way of lifting objects and weights |
| condition is common among people who use their | | | | and stretch before a vigorous workout or activity, it will |
| arms frequently like bowlers, tennis players and rowers | | | | make your muscle more flexible. Give your shoulder |
| but is not restricted to sports people. It can affect | | | | time to rest and heal. Overworking the muscles and |
| everybody, a wrong move or bad lifting position can | | | | tendons will do you more harm than good. |
| damage the rotator cuff. | | | | Stretching is the best way to condition the muscles |
| The shoulder is the most movable part of our body. It | | | | and tendons around the shoulders. It improves the |
| is composed of muscle, tendon and ligaments that hold | | | | muscles and tendons flexibility and mobility. Rotator |
| it into place to make it stable. Because of its constant | | | | cuff strengthening exercises can be done with the use |
| use, it is susceptible to injuries. Rotator cuff | | | | of light weights and elastic bands. Avoid exercises and |
| strengthening exercises are always prescribed by | | | | movements that will make you reach up. This will |
| healthcare professionals to strengthen the muscles | | | | further impinge the tendons. Try this simple exercise: |
| around the shoulders. | | | | Carefully lift your arms sideways and feel the muscles |
| Some people can move freely even though they have | | | | contract as you raise your hand to shoulder level. |
| a torn rotator cuff. The capacity of the patient to | | | | Avoid quick movements as this will damage the |
| exercise depends on the person's tolerance to pain. | | | | rotator cuffs. Do this 12 times then rest for 2 minutes. |
| Some will require medication to address the pain and | | | | Repeat the exercise another 2 or 3 times. Remember |
| swelling, and for some, ice packs will do the trick. | | | | no pain should be felt during the exercise. |
| The most common treatment for rotator cuff injuries is | | | | Consult with your heath care provider if you are |
| aptly called "RICE" Rest, Ice, Compression and | | | | suffering from shoulder pain while doing this simple |
| Elevation. Other treatments of equal importance are | | | | exercise. Exercise and torn rotator cuff can solve |
| exercise, medicines to relieve pain or soreness and | | | | minor problems; the major ones will need surgery. |