The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that is important in maintaining shoulder stability and movement. There are many types and causes of rotator cuff injuries such as a fall or a condition that becomes progressively worse over time. These actions can lead to major injuries to the rotator cuff; ranging from inflammation resulting in tendonitis to a tear that could require surgery to rectify it. There are three different types of surgery that can be performed depending on the type of injury. They are impingement surgery, rotator cuff repair, and arthroscopic surgery. All types of rotator cuff surgery usually takes one to two hours during which time the patient is placed in a half sitting position and given local anesthesia that...

The rotator cuff is composed of the muscles and tendons in the shoulder which are responsible for connecting the shoulder blade and upper arm bone which keeps the ball of your upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. Although the rotator cuff muscle is important in everyday mobility but it is doubly important to athletes — Especially baseball players. Baseball is the one sport in which the arms and shoulders are used more than any other part of the body. Baseball pitchers are at a greater risk of rotator cuff injuries than any other player on the team because a pitcher can throw a ball at up to 100 miles per hour. Imagine the strength that takes! When a pitcher throws a ball, the arm and shoulder is externally rotated and abducted which puts a...

For anyone who has suffered from a rotator cuff injury, the battle for recovery doesn’t end with surgery. Usually surgery is just the first step in a long, difficult road to recovery. It is after surgery that the real healing begins — typically with physical therapy and a lot of hard work. One of the most common and effective tools used during physical therapy is a rotator cuff elastic exercise band. A rotator cuff elastic band is similar to a rubber band in that it is stretchy and will provide resistance when pulled. However, for the elastic band to be truly effective it must be used properly and in conjunction with sufficient exercises. So, how is the band used properly and what type of exercises can be done with it? The first step in...

Sustaining a rotator cuff injury is very painful and can take a long time to recover from. It is for these reasons that a patient is encouraged to undergo physical therapy and participate in special exercises that will help speed up the recovery process. However, not all exercises are beneficial to a person who is attempting to recover from or prevent a rotator cuff injury. Many exercises are truly beneficial while others are not. Furthermore, some exercises that are intended to be helpful can turn out to be harmful if they are performed incorrectly. There are 5 exercises that athletes should avoid all together because the risk of injury to the rotator cuff is too high. They include: The Bench Press — A very common exercise used to build the...

Upon completion of rotator cuff surgery, the muscles begin to weaken and the shoulder joints become stiff as a result of the shoulder’s immobility for an extended period of time. The single most effective way to prevent this is to initiate a post operative exercise program as soon as possible. What type of exercises should be used to get the shoulder back to normal? Can they be done at home or should you seek physical therapy? Well, the good news is that a majority of post surgery recovery exercises can be done at home. However, for more severe surgeries it would be wise to seek the help of a physical therapist. So, what are the post operative recovery exercises that should be performed? Below are 10 exercises that should be performed three...

Anyone who has sustained a rotator cuff injury or has undergone surgery for it is usually required to complete physical therapy. Although it is extremely beneficial it can also be very scary for someone who has never had to do this before. Here are some of the most common questions new patients have regarding physical therapy. What is physical therapy? Physical therapy is a medical profession in which a therapist provides a service to people who are in need of developing, maintaining, or restoring movement within their body. How do I find the right physical therapist? Finding a therapist that is trained for your specific needs and that you feel comfortable working with is of the utmost importance to your success. However, this is usually easier...

The rehabilitative process associated with a rotator cuff injury can be long and complicated. Normal daily activities are extremely difficult if not impossible to do without help and many days will be spent at physical therapy and rehabilitative sessions completing various exercises. Some of these exercises consist of… Isometric shoulder external rotation – While standing in a doorway, press the front of your wrist against the door frame and try to press your hand outward against the frame. Isometric shoulder internal rotation – Again you will be positioned in a doorway but this time you will press the back of your wrist against the frame and press your palm into the frame. Overhead stretch – While either laying on your...