| If you have injured your shoulder and seen a physician | | | | shoulder in any way. Under no circumstances should |
| about it, he/she will probably recommend a prescribed | | | | you return to normal activities without first consulting |
| plan of exercise to see if it relieves the symptoms. | | | | your physician. The last thing you want to do is risk a |
| This is almost always the first course of action before | | | | re-injury. |
| surgery. You will be instructed to rest the shoulder, | | | | Examples of rotator cuff exercises that are often |
| apply ice and/or heat, take an over the counter | | | | used to rehabilitate a shoulder after injury or surgery |
| anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, and follow the | | | | include those that are designed to restore strength to |
| exercise plan set forth by a physical therapist. | | | | the shoulder and those that will help you to restore |
| This exercise plan will work to help to relieve any | | | | range of motion and flexibility. If any of your exercises |
| stiffness, pain, or weakness caused by your injury. If, | | | | causes you pain in your shoulder then you need to |
| after working the exercise program for a while, your | | | | stop that exercise immediately and talk to your |
| symptoms have not improved, then you may be faced | | | | physical therapist before continuing. You may have |
| with making the decision to have surgery to repair | | | | re-injured your shoulder or you may need to modify |
| your shoulder. After surgery, you will again need to | | | | your exercises somewhat. |
| see a physical therapist for more exercise to | | | | As you are doing the rotator cuff exercises that have |
| strengthen the shoulder. | | | | been prescribed for your rehabilitation, you need to |
| During your rehabilitation period, you will need to refrain | | | | remember to take them seriously. They are something |
| from reaching behind you or pulling your shoulder in any | | | | that you will need to do every day for the rest of your |
| way that will strain the rotator cuff. Also, when you | | | | life. This is because a torn rotator cuff is very easy to |
| first start the rotator cuff exercises, especially if you | | | | re-injure and if you do not keep the shoulder strong |
| have had surgery, you will need to start out very slow | | | | and flexible the chances of a new injury are very |
| and ease into more intense exercise. You will need to | | | | great. You will need to continue your strength and |
| consult with your physician or physical therapist before | | | | stretching exercises long after your shoulder has |
| stepping up your exercise program to be sure that the | | | | healed. |
| added strain will not cause you to re-injure your | | | | |