| If you have managed to damage your rotator cuff | | | | rotator cuff problems. It could also come about through |
| then you will need to consider some sort of shoulder | | | | age. As we get older our posture changes sometimes |
| rehabilitation to get things working properly again but | | | | resulting in muscles behaving differently which can |
| what sort and when should you start them? | | | | cause the rubbing that eventually injures your tendons. |
| There are different types of rotator cuff injuries and | | | | It is important with shoulder rehabilitation to stop using |
| the treatment may vary depending on what you have | | | | the shoulder. With an acute tear it could be worth |
| done and how long it has been going on. | | | | immobilising the arm in a sling. But with both types of |
| There are four muscles in the rotator cuff group. | | | | injury you need to avoid any movement that causes |
| These muscles all help to hold the arm tight against the | | | | pain. At the same time treat the inflammation and pain |
| socket of the shoulder joint to help with rotation of the | | | | with ice packs and anti-inflammatory drugs. If the |
| arm. That and the fact that they combine to form a | | | | problems persist for more than two or three days it is |
| cuff of muscle around the joint is what gives them | | | | worth consulting your doctor. |
| their name. | | | | Treatment may take the form of surgery especially if |
| Two of these muscles, the supraspinatus and the | | | | you have a shoulder impingement or use your |
| infraspinatus are the most commonly injured muscles | | | | shoulders a lot at work but the majority of shoulder |
| of the four. Any sports activity that involves a lot of | | | | injuries can be treated with rest, ice and |
| shoulder rotation puts these two muscles under a | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs followed by exercise once the |
| great deal of stress, pitching in baseball or bowling in | | | | inflammation and pain has subsided. |
| cricket are just two examples. | | | | Do not try working through a rotator cuff problem as it |
| If you tear your rotator cuff it tends to come about in | | | | can only make it worse. Exercise will involve low |
| a couple of different ways. | | | | resistance exercises aimed at isolating and developing |
| An acute tear usually comes about as a result of a | | | | the rotator cuff muscles. Yoga and Pilates based |
| sports injury or fall. This is caused by a sudden force | | | | exercises are good for shoulder rehabilitation because |
| being exerted on the muscle. You will probably feel the | | | | they work with the body's natural resistance working |
| tear as it happens and the muscle may well go into | | | | one muscle against another so are unlikely to cause |
| spasm when you try to move it. There may also be a | | | | any further injury. |
| specific tender spot at the sight of the tear. Moving | | | | Whether you have surgery or not, gentle, shoulder |
| your arm out to the side without help will be painful and | | | | specific exercise is the key to shoulder rehabilitation. |
| at best difficult. | | | | The difference is in the timing. |
| A chronic tear comes about as a result of wear and | | | | Do not forget to keep up the exercises once your |
| tear. It is caused by the tendons rubbing against bone. It | | | | shoulder is better. Keep your rotator cuff strong and |
| could be work related, if, for example you are | | | | have healthy shoulders for life. One rotator cuff injury |
| constantly working above shoulder height. Painting and | | | | is enough for anyone. |
| decorating is an example of an occupation prone to | | | | |