| Any kind of exercise, even shoulder rehab exercises | | | | my phone on the desk at work as I was answering it |
| are the last thing on your mind when you have torn | | | | using my bad arm and getting pain every time. I also |
| your rotator cuff. You tend to spend your time trying | | | | had to stop driving for about three weeks as I drive a |
| to think of inventive ways to move and do everyday | | | | vintage car with no power steering. |
| jobs just to avoid movement because it is so painful. | | | | While you are resting the arm, treat any inflammation |
| Some movements can be impossible simply because | | | | with anti-inflammatory drugs. Make sure that you keep |
| of the pain. | | | | this up until the inflammation and pain have gone. Stop |
| The problem is that when you have damaged these | | | | before your body is ready and the problem will simply |
| muscles they can get inflamed and because they are | | | | come back as the inflammation returns.. |
| all so closely linked this inflammation can cause pain. If | | | | When the inflammation has subsided and the pain has |
| like me, you end up with a shoulder impingement, | | | | reduced significantly you can start gentle shoulder |
| continuing to use your shoulder can actually cause | | | | rehab exercises aimed at strengthening the rotator |
| more damage as the swollen tendons rub against the | | | | cuff. Do not start lifting weights. Use large weights and |
| bone. | | | | you are likely to exercise the wrong muscles and may |
| So what is the answer and when should you start | | | | well damage the rotator cuff again. |
| shoulder rehab exercises. | | | | Shoulder rehab exercises will focus on control and |
| Rest, and lots of it, is the order of the day with any | | | | flexibility, gently stretching and strengthening the |
| rotator cuff injury. These are relatively small but | | | | muscles and gradually building up. They will often be |
| important muscles that pull the arm into the shoulder | | | | based on Pilates or Yoga as these methods of |
| and help to prevent dislocation. They are used the | | | | exercise use little or no weight and usually relay on |
| most when we raise our arms above shoulder height | | | | your body's natural resistance to strengthen the |
| which is why this is often the most painful movement | | | | muscles. Done properly even quite bad rotator cuff |
| when we have damaged them. | | | | problems can be sorted out quite quickly. |
| By rest, I mean exactly that. Avoid any movement that | | | | And once the problem is fixed, you can use the same |
| causes pain as this is likely to be an indication that you | | | | exercises to keep your rotator cuff strong and avoid |
| are doing more harm. You may need to change the | | | | future injuries. |
| way in which you work. I found that I needed to move | | | | |