Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
After injuries, joint replacement surgery or soft tissue repair, physical therapy paves the way for healing, return to normal function, range of motion and rebuilding strength. One common condition treated in Physical Therapy clinics is rotator cuff injury or repair.
Rotator Cuff Injuries:
How Physical Therapy Can Help
A very frequent injury site is the shoulder joint. The shoulder is a combination of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that provide an extensive range of motion in common everyday tasks, as well as in advanced athletic performance.
Whether you’re using a walker, picking up a heavy grocery bag, or driving the ball 200 yards, an optimal range of motion is key to healthy living. However, many times shoulder pain is due to advanced arthritis or degenerative joint disease. In advanced cases, surgery may be inevitable, Shoulder replacement surgery is also known as shoulder arthroplasty.
Rotator cuff injury progression
Most tears of the rotator cuff occur slowly over time as the tissue wears out, and they commonly occur in those 50 years and older. Any force strong enough to tear tendons also damages and weakens the surrounding ligaments. Shoulder pain is multifactorial, and rotator cuff tears results in instability, and frozen shoulder. Many rotator cuff tears can be treated nonoperatively. However, painful tears and tears that interfere with shoulder function should be treated with surgical repair.
Rotator cuff tears are very common in the elderly population. Studies show that 30% of those under the age of 70 and 70% of those over age 80 have a rotator cuff tear.
Imaging such as an MRI is necessary to accurately diagnose the condition, and an evaluation of the overall shoulder stability is essential if the individual wants to return to their normal activities. Once this is determined, the best option for that specific patient is planned out, including rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Physical Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears or Post-Surgery
To relieve inflammation, pain, and to restore joint function and range-of-motion, physical therapy, along with medications are highly effective in many cases. Physical therapists are trained to strengthen and target the smaller muscles around the shoulder. This helps to support the larger muscles, tendons, ligaments, and any additional damage to the shoulder.
Rotator cuff tears are very common in the elderly population. Studies show that 30% of those under the age of 70 and 70% of those over age 80 have a rotator cuff tear.
Imaging such as an MRI is necessary to accurately diagnose the condition, and an evaluation of the overall shoulder stability is essential if the individual wants to return to their normal activities. Once this is determined, the best option for that specific patient is planned out, including rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Physical Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears or Post-Surgery
To relieve inflammation, pain, and to restore joint function and range-of-motion, physical therapy, along with medications are highly effective in many cases. Physical therapists are trained to strengthen and target the smaller muscles around the shoulder. This helps to support the larger muscles, tendons, ligaments, and any additional damage to the shoulder.
PT for Shoulder Injuries or post-surgery include:
• Isometric Exercises
• Range of Motion Activities
• Joint Stabilization Exercises
• PRE’s with Free Weights, Elastic Bands, etc
• Manual Therapy
Physical Therapy
Seeing a physical therapist can alleviate the symptoms and heal the muscles of the shoulder the through specific exercises and soft tissue mobilization. Physical therapy is normally prescribed after surgical repair to speed up the recovery process and to allow the shoulder to heal and function optimally.
Physical therapy is used to help with numerous indications and conditions like retraining the body to improve gait and balance and also after hip, knee or shoulder replacement and so much more. There is no better way to alleviate pain, increase range-of-motion and live a more mobile higher quality of life than through physical therapy.
Excel Physical Therapy of Naples
At Excel Physical Therapy of Naples, we offer patients exceptional, highly-trained professionals specializing in sports and work related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, sports performance enhancement, back and neck pain management, manual therapy, shoulder injuries, and sports metrics ACL injury prevention. We cater to each individual case with meticulous care and attention in a one-on-one setting.
Call Excel Physical Therapy of Naples to schedule your appointment at (239) 213-4295.
239.213.4295
www.physicaltherapyofnaples.com
