So your doctor has told you that you have a torn rotator cuff. Though this sounds scary and dramatic, it’s a very easily managed problem with a lot of achievable solutions depending on why and how your rotator cuff was torn. The most common of these is therapy for rotator cuff repair in Pinecrest.

What Is Therapy for Rotator Cuff Repair in Pinecrest, Anyway? 

Your rotator cuff is a collection of tendons and muscles that keep your shoulder joint in the socket and give it the full range of motion. The socket of your shoulder joint is quite shallow when compared with other joints like the hips. This is due to the wide range of motion that your shoulder can give. The socket has to be relatively shallow to provide the full range of motion. However, this shallow socket also presents a weakness. The more a joint twists, the more that joint can wear down and be injured over time. Your rotator cuff is especially vulnerable to this kind of damage, as any seriously repetitive overhead shoulder motion can cause a rotator cuff injury over time. 

Who Is Most At Risk?

There are a few ways you can be at risk for a rotator cuff injury. The most common way is to have a job or play a sport that requires you to make a lot of repetitive overhead motions. For example, painters and tennis players often develop rotator cuff injuries over time if they don’t pay attention. However, there are other risk factors, as well. 

One of the significant risk factors is age, especially if you are in one of the high-risk professions. However, even people who are not in those high-risk professions can develop a rotator cuff injury over time. For example, parents with a van with a back hatch that must be pulled down could develop a rotator cuff injury over time simply from having to load things in and out of the van and closing the back hatch repeatedly. 

Another significant risk is a family history. Some people have a naturally weaker rotator cuff due to genetics, and those people should take a lot of extra care to protect that area of their body. If your parents, grandparents, or their relatives seem to come down with rotator cuff injuries, it’s worth talking to your doctor about therapy for rotator cuff repair in Pinecrest.

How Do I Get Diagnosed?

If you suspect a rotator cuff injury, then it’s time to go to your doctor. However, what are the symptoms to look out for in a rotator cuff injury? Here are a few of the major symptoms.

• A deep, dull ache in your shoulder, especially at certain angles. Rotator cuff injuries are not sharp or burning pains that might come from nerve damage. Instead, patients usually describe this as a lingering ‘ache.’ 
• A weakness of the shoulder. If you are having trouble lifting with that arm or finding yourself with an issue pulling down window shades or car doors. 
• A limited range of motion. When the rotator cuff is torn, it becomes a lot harder to reach behind you to do things like brushing your hair. 
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain. If you are having issues sleeping due to the pain in your shoulder, it’s a sign that something is wrong.

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s time to go to a doctor. Once you get to the doctor, the doctor will perform several tests to find out exactly what kind of injury you have. The doctor will usually have you move your arm to show your range of motion and press on various places in the shoulder to determine if there is pain, and ask you to describe that pain. If he suspects a deeper rotator cuff injury, he might order an MRI or do an x-ray to determine the extent of the damage. 

What is the Process of Therapy for Rotator Cuff Repair in Pinecrest?

Once you have your diagnosis in hand, usually the doctor will prescribe treatment in two stages. In the first week, you shouldn’t move it too much, and apply ice to bring down the swelling and start the healing process. Once the swelling goes down in a week or two, the doctor will usually prescribe a physical therapy treatment and hand you off to a physical therapy center for the remainder of your treatment. At the physical therapy center, they have several different types of therapy for rotator cuff repair in Pinecrest and the surrounding areas. This helps your rotator cuff to heal while preserving the full range of motion. This can range from anything like repetitive exercises to ultrasound therapy.

Here at Progressive Therapy Center, our experienced team is ready to accompany you on your journey to healing. Contact us today to make an appointment!