Rotator Cuff Treatment

Often with Rotator Cuff injuries your doctor or therapist will advise complete rest or extremely limited activity, followed by gradual shoulder strengthening exercises and physical therapy.

There are several treatment options for rotator cuff tears.

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Causes of Rotator Cuff Tear

A torn rotator cuff is often caused by a sudden and acute fall.

People most likely to suffer a torn rotator cuff are those whose jobs involve repetitive overhead movement, such as construction, stocking shelves or even painting.

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With Arthroscopic  surgery the Rotator Cuff repair  is done by a series of small cuts around the shoulder. Flexible wires called “portals” are introduced through the cuts. These enable the surgeon to see and assess the shoulder damage.

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Mini open repair Rotator Cuff Surgery is a cross between the open and arthroscopic repair.

With Mini open repair the incision is only about 4 cm long. The deltoid muscle is not cut open in this method. Instead, an arthroscope is used to assess the damage and remove the bony fragments of spurs in the underside of the acromion.

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In open repair rotator cuff surgery a small incision of is made over the shoulder joint. The deltoid muscle, which covers the shoulder joint, is exposed. It is then cut to gain access to the tear.

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Shoulder surgery is sometimes necessary to treat rotator cuff injuries such as rotator cuff tears. For example, if the rotator cuff injury is accompanied with a decrease in strength of the affected shoulder joint then the injury may require surgery.

There are three different types of shoulder surgery for rotator cuff injuries. These are

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What are the alternatives to Rotator Cuff Surgery?

Rotator cuff repairs can be achieved by surgery, but in some cases surgery may not be necessary to repair the rotator cuff.

Non-surgical treatment is usually appropriate for people who suffer from shoulder pain without a decrease in shoulder strength caused by the rotator cuff injury.

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Before deciding to have Rotator Cuff Surgery make sure that you have considered other treatment options such as shoulder exercises and pain relief injections first.

Shoulder surgery is however sometimes required for rotator cuff tears, especially if accompanied with a decrease in strength of the affected shoulder joint. There are three types of surgical repair:

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Shoulder tendinitis, shoulder bursitis, and impingement are all closely linked.

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon. In the shoulder, tendinitis usually affects the tendons of the biceps or rotator cuff as a result of pinching from surrounding structures.

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As I explained in my last post, often symptoms of rotator cuff tears appear slowly. The pain is often mild at first and gradually builds up.

If, however, the rotator cuff snaps suddenly because of a fall or fracture, one can usually feel the snapping of the muscle and an instantaneous weakening of the arm.

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