Will you be undergoing a rotator cuff repair surgery sometime soon? Your surgeon has probably already told you that you’ll need physical therapy afterward to help ensure the best possible outcome. But what exactly will that process look like? What rehabilitation exercises for rotator cuff repair will help the most?
Rotator cuff repair surgeries are fairly common, as are injuries to the shoulder in general. While you can generally expect to heal from the surgery in six to eight weeks, full rehabilitation takes much longer. That’s where the physical therapists and chiropractors at Comber Physical Therapy Fusion Chiropractic come in.
Exercise forms the foundation of rotator cuff repair rehabilitation. By restoring motion and strengthening your shoulder and shoulder blade muscles, you can manage pain, reduce scar tissue formation, and find functional shoulder movement once again.
Curious about what sort of rehabilitation exercises for rotator cuff repair we might suggest? Keep reading–or schedule an appointment at our Williamsburg, VA clinic.
Rotator Cuff Repair: A Quick Overview
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that wrap around your shoulder joint, to move the joint and help to support and stabilize it. Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder discomfort, resulting when you tear that tissue, either partially or completely.
Partial rotator cuff tears don’t typically require surgery, although you likely need physical therapy and chiropractic care to rehabilitate properly. A full rotator cuff tear, in which the muscle or tendon ruptures away from the bone, generally requires a surgeon to reattach the tissue back to the bone, a procedure known as a rotator cuff repair.
As with most orthopedic procedures, the surgery itself is only the beginning. Rehabilitation with a physical therapist is crucial in ensuring you heal properly and restore your full mobility, strength, and function, a process that typically takes months (or longer).
Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilitation Exercises: The Secret to Success
Rehabilitation is a comprehensive process that includes pain management, targeted mobility work, and functional training. However, most of this process involves progressive exercise routines that gradually increase intensity as you improve.
Here’s An Example of What You Might Expect:
Mobility
- First, we’ll focus on improving your shoulder’s range of motion through slow, easy movements. For example, we might ask you to start using equipment like pulleys or sliding along a tabletop until you’re safe to do more challenging mobility exercises.
Strength
- As you restore your range of motion, we’ll move on to exercises that strengthen the rotator cuff muscles and the muscles in your upper back that help support your shoulder. We start with simple muscle activations and isometric contractions, then contracting with a limited range of motion or against light resistance, increasing it over time.
Functionality
- As you build strength, we’ll start working with you on functional training, focusing on the shoulder movements you need to perform in your day-to-day life. For example, we might train you on the movements necessary to brush your teeth or lift your arm overhead to reach something on a high shelf. If you’re an athlete, we’ll help you with sports-specific movements when your shoulder is ready.
Learn More About Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation exercises for rotator cuff repair are crucial in helping you fully recover after shoulder surgery. The Comber Physical Therapy Fusion Chiropractic team will guide you through the right exercises for your needs, helping ensure you won’t struggle with shoulder pain and restriction.
Ready to get started? Schedule your appointment with us today!
Tags: post-surgical rehab, shoulder pain, shoulder pain relief
