| A rotator cuff injury is one of the most painful and also | | | | lifting. Personally, I am an avid weight lifter and |
| debilitating injuries anyone can suffer. Take it from me, | | | | whenever my rotator cuff hurts, I can barely finish my |
| my rotator cuff has been chronically injured in the past | | | | workout due to the pain. Any sort of bench press, |
| few years and regardless of physical therapy, ice and | | | | shoulder press, or upper body exercises can |
| heat treatment, and shoulder exercises and stretches, | | | | aggravate the rotator cuff. |
| it always seems to flare up from time to time. The | | | | Rotator cuff pain is no joke. In fact, no matter how |
| rotator cuff are the tendons of four shoulder muscles, | | | | tempting it may be to push through the pain and |
| the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and the | | | | continue using the affected shoulder, rest is the most |
| subscapularis. When one or more of these tendons | | | | important aspect of recovery. In fact, even the |
| become overstrained or overworked, it causes pain in | | | | smallest injuries can be exacerbated by constant |
| the shoulder region. Doing everyday movements such | | | | overuse. A simple strain can be overused into a tear |
| as lifting your arm, rotating your shoulder, and any sort | | | | or a rip, leading to a longer recovery. At first during the |
| of throwing motion become painful, agonizing | | | | recovery process, lighter weights or decreased |
| experiences. It's almost impossible to put on a t-shirt | | | | workload may be required to rehabilitate the shoulder |
| without pain or roll over in bed comfortably with a | | | | back to normal strength. Don't worry, I've been through |
| rotator cuff injury. | | | | this process and with proper heating, icing, and light |
| Rotator cuff treatments include ice and heat therapy | | | | strength training, your rotator cuff injury will be back to |
| and stretching over the injured area. Ice therapy is a | | | | normal in no time! |
| good way to reduce swelling and temporarily | | | | Rotator cuff exercises are a great way to speed the |
| decrease pain, and heating can improve blood flow to | | | | recovery process, but don't overdo it! These exercises |
| the affected region, speeding the healing process. | | | | are meant to strengthen the area, and doing them too |
| Rotator cuff surgery may be necessary if there is a | | | | often can overwork the area and reverse the healing |
| tear or rip In the rotator cuff, but most rotator cuff | | | | process. After performing rotator cuff exercises, be |
| injuries are strains and not tears, therefore only | | | | sure to ice the area to reduce swelling and decrease |
| needing proper physical therapy and rest to improve | | | | pain. After icing, heat should be applied to increase |
| the symptoms. | | | | blood flow. Follow this procedure two or three times a |
| Anyone involved in sports, weight lifting, or strength | | | | day until desired results are achieved. This, combined |
| training exercise in general is at risk for a rotator cuff | | | | with proper rest, should be enough to heal any minor |
| injury. In fact, rotator cuff strains and tears are the | | | | rotator cuff injury. However, before starting any |
| most common upper body injury, especially in weight | | | | recovery program, please speak with your doctor. |