| Just because you have damaged your rotator cuff, it | | | | A rotator cuff tear, even a small one, will cause |
| does not guarantee that you are going to need | | | | inflammation of the tendons. The inflammation can |
| surgery. Rotator cuffs get injured in a variety of ways | | | | cause impingement which basically means that your |
| and every injury will be different depending on how it | | | | tendons are getting pinched or caught by bone every |
| occurred in the first place. | | | | time that you move your shoulder. Lifting your arm |
| Simply because you have managed to tear your | | | | above your shoulder may be painful, reaching behind |
| rotator cuff, it does not guarantee that you are going | | | | you will be painful, you will probably find that getting to |
| to need surgery. People injure their rotator cuffs in a | | | | sleep is difficult because you will not be able to put |
| variety of ways and each injury can be different | | | | your weight on your injured shoulder. |
| depending on how you managed to acquire it in the | | | | You need to listen to the message that your muscles |
| first place. | | | | are sending because each pain is a sign of further |
| If you think of the tendons of the rotator cuff as being | | | | damage being done. It is essential to rest the shoulder, |
| just like an old tow rope, I say old simply because | | | | avoiding any of the movements that cause pain or |
| that's how my rotator cuff felt when I tore it. If you | | | | discomfort. |
| tow too many cars with the rope or allow it to rub | | | | Rotator cuff tear treatment will start with rest to allow |
| against something sharp, it might begin to get frayed, | | | | the muscle to begin repairing, combined with treating |
| get worn a bit. and consequently weaken. | | | | any inflammation. Try using anti-inflammatory drugs like |
| It might be that you try towing something that is too | | | | Ibuprofen, if that does not work, a steroid injection |
| heavy and end up stretching the rope, pulling the fibres | | | | may be called for. You also need to treat the injury |
| apart. Pull away too quickly when you are towing and | | | | with ice packs to reduce inflammation. |
| put a sudden strain on a tow rope and it might simply | | | | Once the inflammation has subsided movement will |
| snap or come away from the car. | | | | become easier. It will not be perfect immediately and |
| Exactly the same could happen to the muscles and | | | | that is where exercise helps to build up the rotator cuff |
| tendons of the rotator cuff. You can just wear them | | | | muscles and get the shoulder joint moving again. This |
| out with repetitive actions, you can overload them and | | | | will be exercises using low weights or resistance |
| pull the fibres apart or if you are really unlucky you can | | | | aimed at isolating the muscles of the rotator cuff. Using |
| end up snapping them completely. | | | | large weights will just get the major muscles working |
| Virtually all complete or full thickness tears will require | | | | and either ignore or at worst damage the rotator cuff |
| surgery. If you have succeeded in detaching the | | | | muscles. |
| tendon from the bone you will definitely be looking at | | | | The good news is that, because of that, most of these |
| surgery to correct it. | | | | exercises are suitable to be done at home. |
| I am happy to say , however, most or nearly all partial | | | | Treat a rotator cuff tear correctly and you can have |
| rotator cuff tears can be sorted out without surgery, | | | | a pain free shoulder back quickly and easily, work |
| providing you take them seriously right from the start | | | | through it and you might as well book surgery straight |
| and don't try carrying on regardless. | | | | away. |