| It seems hard to believe but shoulder exercises helped | | | | simple shoulder injury. |
| me to get fit and lose weight or should I say helped | | | | I was booked for surgery but it was three months off |
| me get back in shape. | | | | so in desperation I started looking into shoulder injuries |
| Around a year ago I tore my rotator cuff. Up until then | | | | and how to treat them. I discovered that shoulder |
| I was a reasonably fit person, I ran three times a | | | | exercises feature strongly in most shoulder therapy |
| week, I had occasional bouts of gym membership, | | | | programmes especially rotator cuff problems. |
| swam regularly, played golf, played squash and | | | | Your rotator cuff helps to stabilise the shoulder joint |
| generally looked after myself quite well. I was in my | | | | especially when you rotate your arms or raise them |
| early fifties, in good shape and proud of it. | | | | above shoulder height. If you damage your rotator cuff |
| And then I hurt my shoulder. I woke up one morning | | | | it can become inflamed and in some cases the |
| with a sore shoulder. I knew I had hurt it the day | | | | tendons can become pinched against the shoulder |
| before lifting something awkwardly but had thought | | | | blade. This is what happened in my case. |
| little of it. Over the next few days my shoulder | | | | The idea with shoulder exercises in rotator cuff injuries |
| deteriorated. What started out as a sore shoulder | | | | is to strengthen the shoulder muscles to help support |
| became an arm that ached constantly; raising my arm | | | | the rotator cuff and allow it to heal. The important thing |
| to the side or front caused extra pain. Getting | | | | is to treat the inflammation, resting the shoulder |
| showered, getting dressed all became difficult. The | | | | completely to let it start to heal before you try any |
| more I used it the worse it got. | | | | exercise. I gave it a go. |
| The gym stopped, swimming was impossible, golf and | | | | By now my shoulders were quite weak from lack of |
| squash both had to go and finally the running became | | | | exercise so I started with some simple stretching |
| too painful. Every step caused shooting pains through | | | | exercises aimed at improving mobility, following up with |
| my shoulder. | | | | low resistance, low weight exercises to start to |
| I took myself off to the doctor, who diagnosed a | | | | strengthen the muscles. Gradually over the next few |
| rotator cuff problem and referred me to a specialist. | | | | weeks I increased the intensity of the exercises. My |
| The specialist confirmed a torn rotator cuff and gave | | | | shoulder started to get better. I could feel it improving |
| me a steroid injection to ease the inflammation and | | | | and getting stronger as each week went by. The |
| pain. It helped for a while but the pain came back. | | | | exercises focused on flexibility and control not just |
| Another steroid injection had the same effect so in the | | | | strength. |
| end I was booked for surgery to free up a trapped | | | | I am now back to running, have had my first swim and |
| tendon. | | | | even played a round of golf. The surgery is postponed, |
| All this was taking time, time in which I was barely able | | | | the extra weight is starting to go and I feel fitter. So |
| to exercise because of the pain. Gentle walking was | | | | don't underestimate the power of simple shoulder |
| about all I could manage. My weight went up, my | | | | exercises. They definitely changed my life for the |
| general fitness levels went down and all because of a | | | | better. |