Physical Therapy For Rotator Cuff Injuries
Unfortunately, millions of people every year suffer from rotator cuff injuries — it’s one of the most common causes of chronic shoulder pain worldwide. Fortunately, there are a variety of means available that can help you get the relief you deserve. Nobody should have to deal with daily pain. The question is: can physical therapy alone heal your rotator cuff? The answer to this question is dependent on a few factors, read on to find out more.
What is a rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a grouping of four tendons at the top of the shoulder that provides stability and range of motion to the shoulder. It’s what allows you to throw a ball, or reach things on the top shelf. The human body has a tendency to make simple movements like this look easy, but this isn’t actually the case. These movements are complex, and the mechanisms that control them are often put in compromising positions.
What causes rotator cuff injuries and who is at risk?
Anyone can experience shoulder pain caused by a rotator cuff injury, but athletes and people with physical jobs are particularly vulnerable. A football player’s repetitive and explosive movements necessary to throw a ball are often to blame. Or a carpenter constantly lifting heavy objects over their head.
As mentioned above, it’s not just athletes and construction workers who are at risk. Anyone who engages in repetitive motions involving the shoulder can experience an injury. Older individuals are also prone to rotator cuff injuries. Aging and degeneration can cause problems. As people grow older, the blood supply to muscles, tissues, and joints decreases. With that, our ability to heal and repair damaged tissue slows.
Can Physical Therapy Heal a Rotator Cuff?
The answer to this question is a bit of a “yes and no” scenario. The severity of the injury is highly relevant. Recall that the rotator cuff is made up of four tendons. Typically in a rotator cuff injury or tear, only one of the four tendons are involved. So when you learn to strengthen the other three tendons through a specific physical therapy program, you can alleviate pain and functionally improve your mobility. For example, a complete tear of the rotator cuff may require surgery followed by physical therapy, whereas a partial tear may only require physical therapy. Physical therapy itself is not directly healing the injury. However, PT greatly improves and assists the healing process. The function of physical therapy when dealing with an injury like a partial tear of the rotator cuff is to strengthen the muscles surrounding it. When these muscles are stronger, the body will put less stress on the injury itself, thus leading to better faster recovery. In fact, some studies have shown that proper physical therapy programs are comparably effective to surgery for rotator cuff injuries.
Best Physical Therapist in Reading, PA
When you plan a visit to our office, you’ll be seen by our physical therapist, Joe Miller. Joe has spent over three decades serving patients in the Reading and Berks area. He’ll pay close attention to your symptoms and concerns, conduct a careful assessment, and put together an individualized care plan to get you feeling better ASAP. Patient comfort is a top priority at Wyomissing Physical Therapy, so Joe will guide you through every step of your physical therapy plan. You won’t be caught off guard by any methods or treatment techniques. If you’re experiencing recurring or worsening shoulder pain, plan your visit and start feeling the relief you deserve.
