| > | | | | sometimes help with the pain because a lot of |
| A rotator cuff tear can happen for a variety of | | | | shoulder pain is caused by swollen tendons getting |
| reasons but what is teh best way to fix it? | | | | trapped by other muscles and bone. Ultra sound can |
| A rotator cuff tear can come about for a number of | | | | also be used to help with the inflammation and can |
| different of reasons. For most of us it will probably be | | | | also prompt healing. |
| as a result of wear and tear as we get older. Although | | | | Once the injury has started to settle down and |
| this is an injury that is most common in the over fifties, | | | | movement has become easier it is time to start |
| it can also be acquired through a knock or fall or even | | | | exercising the rotator cuff muscles to build up their |
| simply through a repetitive action such as throwing a | | | | strength. These exercises will be small exercises with |
| ball . This is why it is sometimes called pitcher's | | | | little or no resistance. These are small muscles that |
| shoulder. | | | | often suffer injury simply because we neglect them. |
| Corrective surgery tends to be restricted to the | | | | The majority of us don't understand how important |
| unlucky few who either manage a complete rotator | | | | these muscles are until we suffer an injury, but they |
| cuff tear or who do not respond to conservative | | | | are fundamental to having a healthy shoulder, holding |
| treatment. | | | | the arm into the socket as we move and lift.Just a |
| So what is the best type of torn rotator cuff | | | | small increase in the strength of the rotator cuff can |
| treatment? | | | | have a dramatic affect on the overall strength of the |
| Firstly rest! You need to let the muscle heal properly | | | | shoulder. |
| and if you carry on using it, you will slow down the | | | | Rotator cuff specific exercises are what is called for. |
| recovery process and may even end up causing a | | | | If you start working out with weights this is likely to just |
| serious injury. Depending on which of the rotator cuff | | | | work the major muscles of the shoulder and do |
| muscles you have damaged some of your shoulder | | | | nothing for the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff exercises will |
| movements will be painful. The usual symptoms for a | | | | isolate these muscles waking them up, building their |
| Supraspinatus tear for example are pain when | | | | strength. You'll be surprised how quickly your shoulder |
| reaching for anything or when lifting your arm above | | | | joint will get better once you get these muscles |
| shoulder height, difficulty reaching behing you and | | | | working again. |
| trouble sleeping because the shoulder is so tender. If | | | | But remember, rest and treat the inflammation |
| you continue to do the same movements that you find | | | | before you start any rotator cuff exercises. If you |
| painful you are going to further damage the muscle | | | | need to modify how you work in order to rest your |
| which could leave you with a full thickness muscle | | | | shoulder then do it. Working through a rotator cuff |
| tear that will definitely need surgery. | | | | injury can only lead to further injury. |
| After resting the muscle, you need to look after the | | | | And finally. It is worth mentioning that self diagnosis of |
| inflammation and pain. This could be done with | | | | shoulder problems is not a good idea. Different injuries |
| anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen or with | | | | need different treatments and it's worth getting it right |
| cortisone injections. Treating the inflammation will | | | | just to avoid further problems. |