Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment - Exercises Are the Answer to a Fast Recovery

Usual torn rotator cuff treatments include rest, cold packs, and anti inflammatories. In the most severe cases, arthroscopy may be performed, but this is largely avoidable.

Ultrasound and cortisone injections are also prescribed as ancillary treatments for such a condition, but best of all, specific rotator cuff exercises can and will shorten usually long recovery times, cutting down on drug dependency along the way.

A torn rotator cuff can occur both due to an injury or excessive repetitive and/or forceful motions, such a in the case of a baseball or a tennis player, especially in over head movements. The onset of a tear in one or more of the 4 muscles and tendons of the cuff shows up with the common symptom of a shoulder condition: pain on the side of the deltoid muscle, particularly at night. Pain when raising the arm and lowering it, and a weakness in outward and inward rotations are a typical signs of a tear, though.

When a tear is present, the doctor will usually prescribe a period of rest by keeping the arm in a swing for few days or more while taking anti inflammatory to relieve pain and inflammation. These can be both prescription and over the counter, like aspirin or ibuprofen. However, they are effective in curing just the symptoms and are not meant to be long term solutions. Only in the most severe cases cortisone injections and surgery should be considered, but this is mostly avoidable. In fact, whichever the severity of the tear, the implementation of specific exercises for rotator cuff by a professional specialist can greatly speed up the recovery process, restoring strength and flexibility in the shoulder affected.

Do not take this article as an invitation to self diagnose, though. If you think you are affected by a torn rotator cuff, consult your physician first. If this turn out to be the case, then it may be wise to adhere to a professional torn rotator treatment program for effective rehabilitation.

Such program should be devised by a specialist with medical knowledge of the rotator cuff, not implemented by taking samples here and there, because this could lead to greater injury, since the shoulder joint is very complex and prone to long recovery times for any condition, including a tear. If you are looking for and effective and professional torn rotator cuff treatment, check out this website that could save you months of misery. Click on torn rotator cuff treatment now.

Torn Rotator Cuff Symptoms - How to Cope With a Torn Rotator Cuff

A rotator cuff injury will range from an irritating throb which never disappears, to a debilitatingly laborious injury that requires surgery to alleviate. Torn rotator cuff symptoms, although clearly recognised, are so often dismissed. Understanding the symptoms can assist the patient deal with the drawback of a torn rotator cuff on their own, or allow health professionals to advise on the most helpful treatment program.

Cuff disorders tend to be irritations in or damage to tendons surrounding the shoulder. These disorders include inflammation of the tendons (tendinitis) or the bursa (bursitis), a localised build up of calcium in the tendons, or partial or complete tears of the tendon.

The shoulder's rotator cuff plays an influential role in pitching actions, such as in football, baseball, or softball, or extended expansive arm motions such as in racket sports like tennis. Consisting of a collection of muscles and tendons, the cuff facilitates a generous range of movement affecting the shoulder and also keeps the shoulder joint fast.

A rotator cuff is more simply damaged or ripped as we get older, as age leads to erosion, and in elder people torn rotator cuff symptoms will be extra acute. The proceeding factors often happen jointly or overlap.
Bones that are unevenly shaped can affect how the cuff operates in the subacromial area. You may perhaps be born with these irregularities, or they may happen after some sort of injury, such as a bone fracture or a full or partial displacement of the shoulder joint itself. If the acromion is hooked or curved, impingement or erosion of rotator cuff tendons may be more likely.

When will physical therapy be used to treat rotator cuff disorders?
Physical therapy will be undertaken before any surgical thoughts to help decide upon the cause of your shoulder trouble and to take into consideration what sort of surgery may be required. While strengthening a muscle that is fixed to a torn tendon is not likely to be beneficial, strengthening the surrounding muscles may well allow your shoulder to offset against a torn rotator cuff tendon. If your shoulder gets better, or gets better completely with physical therapy, you may not require surgery. If you do require rotator cuff surgery, you will need to take part in and complete a physical therapy program following surgery.

Treatment Overview
Treatment for cuff disorders focuses on reducing pain and swelling and rejuvenating shoulder strength, movement, and function. Treatment might assist in prevent additional complications, such as reduction of strength and mobility in the shoulder or additional deterioration or tearing. Treatment thoughts include your particular torn rotator cuff symptoms, as well as factors such as age, pursuit level, physical wellbeing

Non surgical treatment
The majority of cuff disorders are managed outside of surgery. If this is the situation then your therapy may include:
Resting, although small motion of the shoulder will always be suggested.
Prolonged restriction such as holding the shoulder rigid, as with slings or braces, may force the shoulder joint to grow to be stiff.

So will I need surgery for my damaged cuff?
Torn cuff difficulties, which have persisted over a period of time, tend to be treated outside of surgery, with relaxation, pain killers, ice massage and a cut down activity schedule, or at least a range of more moderate arm motions. If the symptoms don't respond to these measures, additional therapy involving MRI scans are needed to look for any foremost tears in the cuff. X-rays will not show a torn cuff, but they will illustrate any outline bony abnormalities that might suggest further cuff disease.

Surgery Options
Surgery is most functional in getting rid of pain and weakness in the shoulder or if the tendons are being compressed as they move along their regular ranges of activity. The two classes of surgery used for cuff disorders are subacromial smoothing and rotator cuff repair.

Many people end up living with their torn rotator cuff symptoms, and take no further actions to remedy the condition. If the pain is persistent but always bearable, like an annoying ache, then as long as it does not affect how we live our lives, there is no need for any further treatment. However, it won't go away, it won't get better without some form of treatment, be that surgical or non-surgical. It always makes sense to seek medical advice when suffering from any aches and pains, and your physician can work with you to prescribe the best form of treatment.

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Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment - Exercise Or Rest?

Yes is the answer but not in that order. It also depends on how badly you have torn it. Most tears will respond to rest and exercise but any serious partial tear or full tear may require surgery before you do any therapy exercise.

The important thing with any type of torn rotator cuff treatment is to rest and let the injury begin to heal. Working through the pain of a rotator cuff is likely to leave you needing surgery as you do more damage to the tendons.. so rest is the first order of the day.

Along with rest, you need to reduce the inflammation before you can think about starting any form of exercise. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that help to stabilise the shoulder joint by pulling the head of the humerus into the socket of the shoulder joint. They are small but important muscles that surround the shoulder joint forming a cuff of muscle that supports it. in doing so they run over and sometimes under the bones of the shoulder.

Any inflammation to these tendons can cause pain as the inflamed tendon can catch or impinge on bone. A classic example of this is the supraspinatus muscle which runs under the collar bone and the acromion of the shoulder blade. When this muscle become inflamed it can catch on the channel of bone and start to fray. Worst case scenario is that it could eventually snap leaving you needing shoulder surgery.

So let the muscles rest. This means avoiding any movement that causes pain. If your work involves a lot of overhead movement you may need to modify the way in which you work. If you sit at a desk, you might need to rearrange your desk to avoid stretching or reaching movements with the damaged arm. It might even be necessary to take a few days off to rest the arm properly.

At the same times start to treat the inflammation. This could be by using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and also by using ice packs on the damaged muscle to help to reduce swelling. If symptoms persist it may be necessary to have a cortisone injection into the muscle to combat the inflammation. Your doctor should be able to do this for you.

Once the muscle has started to settle down you can start simple exercises aimed at strengthening the rotator cuff muscles. Do not rush off to the gym thinking that any type of exercise will do the trick. It won't. Using weights before the muscle has healed properly is likely to cause more damage.

Rotator cuff exercises use little or no weight when recovering from an injury. They will start with gentle exercises that do not cause any pain. If you feel pain when exercising stop immediately as this is an indication of further damage being done. It may be that you started exercising too soon.

And finally, when your shoulder is fixed and back to its full pain free movement, don't stop the exercises. Rotator cuff injuries are very common but a lot of them can be avoided by keeping the rotator cuff muscles strong so just take five or ten minutes a day to keep them in shape.

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My name is Nick Bryant and I am an older dad to two young children aged seven and five. I am keen on staying fit and active so that I can enjoy an active life with my children as they grow. Having suffered a shoulder injury that put me out of action for several painful months, I ws keen to share my experience and let others know how I managed a full recovery without surgery despite being told that it was necessary.

Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment - The Good News is That it Rarely Involves Surgery

A torn rotator cuff can come about for a variety of reasons. For most of us it will simply be as a result of wear and tear as we get older. This is an injury that is most common in the over fifties but can also be acquired through a knock or fall or even simply through a repetitive action such as throwing a baseball. This is why it is sometimes referred to as pitcher's shoulder.

Surgery tends to be restricted to the unfortunate few who either manage a complete rotator cuff tear or whose injury does not respond to conventional treatment.

So what is the best form of torn rotator cuff treatment?

Firstly rest! You need to let the muscle heal and if you carry on using it, either it will slow down the recovery process or the worst case scenario is that you will make the injury worse. Depending on which of the rotator cuff muscles you have damaged some of your shoulder movements will be painful. The classic symptoms for a Supraspinatus tear for example are pain when lifting your arm above shoulder height or reaching for anything, pain when reaching behind you and difficulty sleeping because the shoulder is so tender. If you carry on doing the movements that are painful you are going to further damage the muscle which could result in a full thickness tear that will definitely need surgery.

Secondly, treat the inflammation and pain. This could be done with anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen or with cortisone injections. Treating the inflammation will often alleviate the pain simply because a lot of the pain in shoulder injuries is caused by swollen tendons getting pinched. Ultra sound can also be used to help with the inflammation and help to improve healing.

Once the muscle has settled down and movement has become easier you can start exercising the rotator cuff muscles to strengthen them. These exercises will be small exercises with little or no weight or resistance. These are small muscles that often suffer injury as a result of neglect. Most of us are unaware of the importance of these muscles until we suffer an injury, but they are key to a healthy shoulder joint, holding the arm into the socket as we lift and move. A small increase in strength of the rotator cuff can have a dramatic affect on the overall strength of the shoulder joint.

Rotator cuff specific exercises are needed. Don't start working out with weights as this is likely to simply work the major muscles of the shoulder and do nothing for the injured muscles. Rotator cuff exercises will isolate these muscles and get them working again. You'll be surprised how quickly your shoulder will return to full health once you get these muscles working again.

But remember, rest and treat the inflammation before you start any rotator cuff exercises. If you need to modify how you work in order to rest your shoulder then do it. Working through a rotator cuff injury can only lead to further injury.

And finally. It is worth mentioning that self diagnosis of shoulder problems is not a good idea. Different injuries need different treatments and it's worth getting it right just to avoid further problems.

If you found this article useful or just plain interesting then check out my site at http://myrotatorcuffcure.blogspot.com

My name is Nick Bryant and I am an older dad to two young children aged seven and five. I am keen on staying fit and active so that I can enjoy an active life with my children as they grow. Having suffered a shoulder injury that put me out of action for several painful months, I ws keen to share my experience and let others know how I managed a full recovery without surgery despite being told that it was necessary.

Rotator Cuff Treatment - Different Solutions But Just One Natural and Effective Treatment

There is not just a single rotator cuff treatment, but different ones depending on the shoulder condition and its severity. For a start there are conditions associated with inflammation such as Bursitis and Tendonitis. Both are inflammations or two different parts of the rotator cuff system, the Bursa and the Tendons, which in turn lead to the condition proper, the Impingement Syndrome.

The usual treatment for these is the prescription of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin. For more sever cases there are also more specific prescription drugs. As for all medicines, they can only provide symptom relief, masking of the pain, and side effects. If ineffective, treatments can step up to cortisone injections or even surgery. Surgery is avoidable in the majority of cases, and so is the dependency on drugs with a proper rotator cuff rehabilitation program.

A Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) is caused by scars of the membrane protecting the shoulder joint. Such scars (Adhesions) thicken such membrane to the point that the shoulder bones inner space becomes restricted, and so does the shoulder range of motion. A rotator cuff treatment in this case should consist of heat packs to soften up the adhesions, ultrasounds, anti inflammatory drugs both over the counter or prescription. If symptoms persist, manipulation under general anesthesia may be performed or even surgery. Manipulation is the breaking of the adhesions by the surgeon moving the arm. The last two are avoidable in the majority of cases again with a professional rehabilitation program.

A torn rotator cuff is caused by a tear in the shoulder typically caused by forceful or repetitive tasks, such as golf swing or heavy laboring. In this case rest is mandatory first to give the cuff a chance to recover, then again anti inflammatory drugs and in the most severe cases, surgery. Again all this is avoidable with the only natural and effective rotator cuff treatment available: a rehabilitation program.

A rehabilitation program not only can help you reduce or cut off drugs and avoid surgery, it will also greatly speed up recovery times from months and months to few weeks. All rotator cuff conditions take many months, sometimes few years to heal naturally. But with a specific rehabilitation program you can restore your shoulder to prime condition in no time at all.

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Can a Torn Rotator Cuff Heal? Home Rehabilitation May Be the Answer

Is your shoulder pain getting to the point where you need to do something about it? You had hopes that, with a little rest, it would heal. But sure enough, your doctor tells you that your RC has a small tear. What do you do from here? Corrective surgery, physical therapy or a combination may be recommended by your doctor. Can a rotator cuff heal without surgery? Yes, many times it is possible to heal a torn rotator cuff without the need for surgery. Just make sure you talk with your doctor before making a final decision.

Generally speaking tendons are durable, but if too much stress is placed on them, especially repetitive movements, swelling may result. Resting the inflamed tendons is crucial, otherwise a tear may follow. Falling on an outstretched hand is a also a common way to injure the rotator cuff.

The complex network of small muscles and tendons must be approached gently and patiently when going through a rehabilitation program. Always pay attention to strict form when learning new exercises and of course talk with your doctor before taking on a new rotator cuff rehab program.

Stretching should be added to any good rotator cuff rehab program. The benefits of proper stretching include improved circulation and increased mobility and range of motion. The small muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff don't receive a lot of blood flow, so improving circulation with stretching, massage and applying heat is important to the overall healing process.

By slowly and progressively strengthening the rotator cuff through intelligent physical therapy, it may be possible to heal the injury.

Rotator cuff injuries sometimes take a while to heal. Make sure you are committed to any therapy you undertake and stay consistent. Rotator cuff exercises, if done properly, can do wonders for healing and strengthening your shoulder. The key is to be patient and consistent.

Use common sense and avoid the temptation to start performing exercises without the proper guidance. The rotator cuff is a sensitive area and healing must be approached in a very specific way. There is not a lot of margin for error and you could easily make your injury worse. Under certain circumstances you can heal a torn rotator cuff especially if you follow and intelligent rehab program designed by a specialist in rotator cuff injuries.

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Rotator Cuff Tear Rehab That Can Slash Recovery Times

A rotator cuff tear rehab program should include specific inward and outward movements to help the cuff muscles strengthen after trauma or following surgery. Pain and weakness are the symptoms associated with a tear, difficulty in over head movements and performing tasks. Upon tearing a rotator cuff muscle, it is best resting the joint affected without immobilizing it. Immobilization cold lead to a Frozen Shoulder, so it is better minimizing activity to allow the inflammation to settle down before proceeding to rehabilitation.

The symptoms of a rotator cuff tear are pain, usually on the outside of the shoulder, pain at night, and an inability to hold the arm out or lifting it over head in the worst cases. The majority of tears can be treated without surgery with ice packs and anti inflammatories, both prescription and over the counter, or cortisone injections. However, a better and natural solution is performing specific exercises for the 4 muscles of the rotator cuff that can greatly cut down recovery times. These exercises are different from those performed in the gym for the big shoulder muscles, the Deltoid and the Trapezius.

No heavy lifting over head is required, such as in the military press. Instead, inward and outward rotation movements will target and isolate the rotator cuff muscles that insert in different parts of the shoulder blade on one side and converge into the top of the arm on the other. It is these 4 small but very important muscles and tendons that keep the Humeral Head, the ball, into its place, the Glenoid socket, thus preventing the arm from getting dislodged while allowing for the greatest range of motion of any joint.

Unfortunately, due to its complexity and the fact that we use it every day, once injured it is difficult, painful, and time consuming to recover. A rotator cuff tear rehab program can consistently improve recovery, slashing down healing times, thus cutting down also on anti inflammatories on the long run.

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MRI Images Showing Torn Rotator Cuff

A rendering of mri data from my shoulder -- small tear, strained rotator cuff.



Source of MRI Images Showing Torn Rotator Cuff

Effectiveness of Rotator Cuff MRI

To determine the presence of diseases and determine the line of treatment diagnostic tests are advised. There are many diagnostic tests that are appropriate for rotator cuff syndrome.

Magnetic resonance imaging is a modern diagnostic test and rotator cuff MRI is used to determine the extent of rotator cuff impingement. Other tests for rotator cuff impingement are x-ray, ultra sound, and magnetic resonance anthography. Rotator cuff MRI is believed to be an effective test to detect most rotator cuff tears.

No single diagnostic test can determine decisively about the extent of rotator tear and even if any test does so it will not be able to do so in all cases. These tests work well when they are conducted in conjunction with one another. Each test has its own advantage and disadvantage.

The advantages of rotator cuff MRI is that it doesn't require needles and is painless. Using magnetic waves, it shows pictures of tendons and bones. It scans the soft rotator cuff tissues and can detect most full thickness tears. This test is performed to determine whether the patient would need surgery or not.

However, there are certain disadvantages of it. It is contraindicated for certain people. This test is totally not applicable for people that have a cardiac pacemaker, ferromagnetic foreign bodies (particularly in the orbit), and some cochlear implants.

Rotator cuff MRI is costly in comparison to ultra sound and x-rays. This test is also not very effective in determining the presence of small tears. Some patients become highly claustrophobic in closed MRI scanners. They will have to be administered mild sedatives or put in open MRI scanners before the test. Despite the short comings rotator cuff MRI gets a good overall rating.

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Symptoms of Torn Rotator Cuff

Know the Symptoms of Torn Rotator Cuff

The most common and obvious symptoms of torn rotator cuff is pain. Pain is often felt at the top and outer or back side of the shoulder. However, the pain can sometimes radiate and it may be felt throughout the arm. The pain will also be intensified whenever the person raises or swings his arm.

In some cases, the pain can be greater during sleep. This is because when sleeping, people often unknowingly put pressure or weight on the injured shoulder. Since the rotator cuff is torn, the person will consequently feel weaker in the arms. An X-ray or an MRI can help effectively diagnose any tear in your rotator cuff.

Another symptom of torn rotator cuff is when you feel pain or you experience difficulty in normal activities. If you feel pain when combing, dressing or reaching behind your back, you might have a minor tear in your rotator cuff. Ask your doctor for further tests to confirm your condition. If you are worried about a tear in your rotator cuff, be mindful of your range of movement. If you notice you cannot move your shoulder normally or have difficulty lifting or swinging your arms, seek medical attention at once.

Unusual sounds can also be indicative of a torn rotator cuff. If you hear your shoulder 'pop' whenever you lift it overhead or when you bring it down, there may be an injury to your rotator cuff. Also, if there are cracking or grating sounds whenever you move your arm, you may have a tear in your rotator cuff.

Keep in mind that the symptoms of a torn rotator cuff may appear gradually, especially if the injury is due to overuse. You may have developed a tear but the pain and other symptoms may appear much later and sometimes, when the tear has worsened.

If the torn rotator cuff injury results from a fall, the symptoms may be felt immediately. After a fall or a collision, the person may feel like his shoulder snapped or suddenly weakened. There will be sudden onset of acute pain.

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