The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that play a crucial role in maintaining shoulder stability and movement. Commonly experienced in throwing sports such as football, baseball, basketball, and boxing, a rotator cuff tear can be a debilitating injury for athletes. As the first line of defense in treating shoulder injuries, physical therapy plays an important role in rehabilitating and treating rotator cuff injuries, often determining whether surgical intervention is required and providing post-surgery rehabilitation.
Here, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and effects of rotator cuff tears and the importance of physical therapy in rehabilitation. By understanding the nuances of rotator cuff tears, athletes can assess their habits and retrain their focus on healthier and safer play options.
What Happens When You Tear Your Rotator Cuff?
When the rotator cuff is torn, the tendons surrounding the shoulder joint experience damage, such as fraying, tearing, or completely rupturing. As these tendons become inflamed and damaged, they can tear away from the bone, causing athletes great pain. In mild cases, physical therapy can offer some relief while the tendons heal themselves and repair over time. However, severe cases may require surgical intervention as surgeons rebuild and repair ruptured tendons.
Visiting a physical therapist or orthopedist can help you determine a diagnosis for rotator cuff tear as well as discern the severity of your injury. Common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear may include:
- Pain
- Weakness in the arms
- Limited range of motion
- Inability to perform daily activities
The Role of Physical Therapy in Treating Rotator Cuff Injuries
Physical therapists must use multifaceted approaches to restore functionality, strength, and range of motion when treating a rotator cuff injury. With pain management at the forefront, physical therapists engage in a few different exercise methods, such as resistance and sport-specific training, allowing athletes to return to their sport as soon as possible. When receiving physical therapy treatment for rotator cuff injuries, your treatment plan may include the following:
Pain Management
Physical therapists may use modalities such as ice, heat, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to help reduce inflammation, allowing for an improved range of motion and comfort. Typically combined with manual therapy, such as massage therapy, shoulder, muscle, and joint manipulations help improve blood flow and reduce stiffness.
Range of Motion Restoration
Physical therapists carefully design a program of gentle stretches and exercises to increase the shoulder joint’s range of motion gradually. By subtly increasing movement, the shoulder joint can build strength and ability over time, preventing stiffness and improving overall function. Physical therapists may have patients participate in exercises such as arm rotations, raising and lowering the arms, or wall stretches.
Strength Training
As pain and inflammation begin to subside throughout the healing and recovery process, physical therapists will focus on rebuilding strength in the rotator cuff muscles and other surrounding shoulder areas. Resistance bands, weights, or specialized equipment for pulling, pushing, or lifting may be used to retrain damaged shoulder muscles and tendons to carry out everyday tasks and promote healthy form for future injury prevention.
Functional Exercise
Physical therapists may incorporate functional exercise into their treatment plans to help patients restore functionality and strength by simulating real-life activities or movements, particularly in athletes experiencing sports injuries. Athletes are typically more involved in functional exercise as they tend to perform certain actions not typically carried out by the average person. Physical therapists can help athletes with specialized movements such as lifting, throwing, punching, or reaching, ensuring a safe and effective return to play.
Physical Education
Physical therapists educate patients on proper body mechanics and posture to promote functionality and prevent further injury. By explaining the body’s mechanics, patients can better understand their treatment plans and accept new suggestions for treatment. As patients learn more about their injuries, physical therapists can prescribe home exercise programs (HEPs) to help them maintain their progress at home.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears
Rotator cuff injuries can be debilitating if not promptly evaluated, treated, or rehabilitated. Physical therapy helps patients get a better idea of their shoulder condition after experiencing a rotator cuff injury and allows them to determine the next course of treatment. Minor rotator cuff injuries such as an initial tear or strain are often the most responsive to the benefits of physical therapy, as specialized treatments and therapies allow the muscles and tendons to heal and repair themselves over time. Major rotator cuff injuries or complete ruptures often require surgical intervention before starting a physical therapy regime to rebuild muscles and regain strength.
Physical therapy focuses on managing pain, improving the patient’s range of motion, and restoring strength and function. By achieving these, physical therapists can provide an all-encompassing approach to rehabilitation and fitness, managing pain without excessive medications. As a non-invasive method of rehabilitation and recovery, physical therapy is often the most utilized approach for improving a patient’s overall quality of life.
Total Physical Therapy — Denver’s Choice for Recovery and Rehabilitation
A torn rotator cuff can cause great pain and discomfort, especially when it affects one’s ability to carry out daily activities. Physical therapists can provide a multifaceted approach to treatment, getting one back to the life they love. Physical therapists can tailor treatment to fit one’s individual needs using techniques ranging from massage therapy to exercise and strength training.
Total Physical Therapy is Denver’s premier physical therapy clinic, focusing on delivering the best possible care to patients seeking recovery and rehabilitation of their injuries. Using personalized and tailored treatment plans and advanced therapeutic technology, the expert physical therapists at Total Physical Therapy deliver an unmatched level of care with long-lasting results. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (303) 758-5060.
