ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY RECOVERY TIPS
Athletes are always confronted with the possibility of injury, and certain sports carry a higher incidence of risk. When it comes to the shoulder, swimmers, tennis players, and baseball players are often faced with rotator cuff issues. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that help keep your shoulder in its socket when you do things like moving your arm up over your head. The rotator cuff can be damaged over time by overuse, and that damage can involve swelling, impingement (when the tendon or muscle is pinched between the bones in the shoulder joint), and tearing.
Oftentimes, rotator cuff injuries can be managed with physical therapy and anti-inflammatories, but with serious issues such as tears, surgery may be the only option. Tendons may need to be sewn back together, or reattached to the bone. Sometimes pieces of swollen or pinched tendon and/or muscle may need to be removed. After surgery, it’s important to follow your doctor’s recovery guidelines to ensure the fastest possible recovery.
The following list of rotator cuff surgery recovery tips are good reminders that can help get you back to doing the sports that you love as quickly as possible.
1. Immobilization & Movement
After a rotator cuff surgery, you’ll likely have to keep your arm in a sling for up to six weeks. Protecting it this way will help it to heal, but it’s also important to take the sling off several times a day and move the rest of your arm to combat stiffness and maintain blood flow.
2. Do Not Raise Your Shoulder Over Your Head
At first, the pain will keep you from overusing your shoulder, but as healing progresses you may be tempted to jump the gun and use your shoulder before it’s ready. Don’t. Following your doctor’s recommendations for introducing overhead movement is crucial, and if not followed, you could prolong recovery or reinjure yourself. Use restrictions will depend on the severity of your injury, and following your doctor-prescribed recovery plan is essential.
3. Complete Your Physical Therapy Regime
Physical therapy is an important part of healing from rotator cuff surgery. It will help you to regain mobility, flexibility and strength and will ultimately lead to a faster recovery time. As time goes on, you may be tempted to skip appointments or shorten the course, but doing this may only lead to reinjury and is not recommended. It is important to follow your physical therapist’s recommendations on the movements that help – and the movements that hinder – your recovery.
Take the Time Necessary to Heal
For competitive athletes, the thought of missing a season and/or critical off-season practice time can be devastating. But a full recovery is vital to being able to compete in and enjoy your sport over the long term. It may be tempting to try and speed through recovery, because, depending on the severity, the healing time for a rotator cuff injury can be anywhere from four months up to a year. However, rushing the process is ill-advised as it can lead to long-term damage and more time away from your sport.
While a rotator cuff injury is inconvenient and painful, with the proper recovery plan, it doesn’t have to be debilitating. The most important thing to remember is that rushing recovery can often make things worse. Following the plan, as outlined by your doctor and physical therapist will get you healed and back in top form as quickly as possible.
Doctor Zapf is A Complex Shoulder Injury Expert. Call Today for an Appointment: (760) 416-4511
Read this next: