| If you've hurt your shoulder you need to be careful not | | | | take measures to prevent further injury. Avoid any |
| to aggravate your injury further. The rotator cuff | | | | athletic activities, working out, or repetitive motions. |
| shoulder muscles are a delicate area that are easily | | | | 2. Support Gravity pulls on your injured arm, causing |
| injured. What starts off as a dull ache can often | | | | strain on your rotator cuff. You should also try to |
| progress to a much more serious condition if you're | | | | support the injured arm throughout the day whenever |
| not careful. Physical therapy for your rotator cuff | | | | possible by using a small pillow or cushion. |
| shoulder injury is recommended if you want to heal | | | | 3. Ice. Icing the shoulder with reduce the swelling and |
| naturally without the need for surgery. | | | | help with pain management. Try to do this at least |
| The shoulder and rotator cuff muscles are often | | | | once or twice per day. Icing right before bedtime will |
| injured through repetitive motions (especially overhead | | | | reduce pain and sweling to help you sleep better. |
| movements.) Another common cause is trauma from | | | | Be patient with your shoulder injury. The rotator cuff |
| a fall with an outstretched hand. Are you experiencing | | | | doesn't receive a lot of circulation, so sometimes |
| pain when you raise your arm overhead? This is a | | | | healing can take a while. Rotator cuff therapy should |
| classic sign of a rotator cuff injury and you need to | | | | be approached consistently and in a progressive |
| take steps towards rehabilitating your shoulder so it | | | | manner. There is definitely a right way and a very |
| doesn't get worse. | | | | wrong way to go about it. Make sure any rehab |
| 3 Tips to help heal your injured shoulder: | | | | program you decide to follow is developed by a |
| 1. Rest. Once you've hurt your shoulder it's important to | | | | physical therapist who specializes in shoulder injuries. |