| It might come as a surprise to find out that the majority | | | | movement in your shoulder. |
| of shoulder injuries can be sorted out with just physical | | | | Your rotator cuff muscles are very small but also very |
| therapy and rotator cuff problems are no different. But, | | | | important muscles. Because they are small the |
| before you rush out and start pushing weights read | | | | physical therapy exercises to build them up will be |
| the rest of this because doing the wrong exercises | | | | using either no weights or very small ones and even |
| can seriously damage a torn rotator cuff. The | | | | as the muscles get better you won't be using any |
| treatment depends on how severe the tear is and | | | | great force with these muscles. They are designed to |
| how you tore it. Now don't get upset at this but just for | | | | hold the top of the humerus (arm bone) into the socket |
| a moment lets think of your shoulder tendons as bits | | | | of your shoulder. Because the joint is a very shallow |
| of old car tow rope. Imagine that this rope has simply | | | | ball and socket joint it would be very easy to pull it out |
| become worn through overuse. It may be getting a bit | | | | of joint so these muscles pull the shoulder together |
| frayed around the edges. Another tow rope may | | | | and form a cuff around the shoulder to stabilize and |
| have been used to pull something that was too heavy | | | | protect it. They are put under pressure when you |
| and in the process may have been stretched too far | | | | reach above your head, behind you or reach for |
| or even snapped. | | | | something, throwing something and so it is when you |
| Get the picture? Depending on how you damaged the | | | | do the same movements that you get pain if you |
| tendons in the first place the injury could be different | | | | have damaged them. If you've managed to tear your |
| and may suggest a different kind of treatments. If you | | | | rotator cuff I bet you find it hard to tuck your pants in |
| have managed to Tear a tendon right through|snap a | | | | or scratch the top of your head. |
| tendon} you are almost definitely looking at surgery as | | | | Rotator cuff strengthening exercises don't involve |
| part of the treatment in order to recover. If it has | | | | these movements and instead will focus on easy |
| simply become worn through overuse you might well | | | | movements that gently strengthen the muscles again. |
| get away without surgery. Nearly all rotator cuff | | | | These are some of the least looked after|most |
| injuries can be fixed with physical therapy (exercise) | | | | neglected} muscles on the body. We take them for |
| but before you start any physical therapy you need to | | | | granted all the time until we injure them. The good |
| allow the muscles heal which means resting and | | | | news is that with the right exercises you can get them |
| reducing the swelling. This may be ice and | | | | working perfectly again in around six weeks and be |
| compression treatment, Ibuprofen or Steroid injections | | | | completely pain free. The wrong exercises and you |
| to reduce inflammation. Once the muscles have | | | | can damage them more and be joining the queue for |
| mended you can then get started on rotator cuff | | | | surgery. |
| strengthening exercises to restore the strength and | | | | |