Rotator cuff injuries are most often caused by progressive wear and tear of the tendon tissue over time. Repetitive overhead activity or prolonged bouts of heavy lifting can irritate or damage the tendon. The rotator cuff can also be injured in a single incident during falls or accidents.
The rotator cuff tendons are a common source of shoulder problems. Over time, normal wear and tear can damage or weaken the tendons. That's even more true if the tendons are overused or if you do repeated overhead arm movements. This age-related wear and tear can cause one or more tendons to rub against the bones.
During the recovery phase of a rotator cuff injury, avoiding overhead lifts with any weight is highly recommended. Movements that require the shoulders to be put under intense pressure or performing complex motions will put more strain on the muscles and potentially cause more significant injury.
Stop doing what caused the pain and try to avoid painful movements. Limit heavy lifting or overhead activity until the shoulder pain subsides. Icing the shoulder may help it feel better. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) also may be helpful.
In short, exercise may have helped individuals feel less symptoms from their rotator cuff tear. Authors concluded, “shoulder activity level was not related to tear progression risk”.
If you have a rotator cuff injury, get ready to let those weights rest a bit at the gym. You should avoid lifting weights above your head or out from the sides of your body. These movements can cause more stress and even further injury to the area.
Red flags include: Trauma, pain and weakness, or sudden loss of ability to actively raise the arm (with or without trauma): suspect acute rotator cuff tear. Any shoulder mass or swelling: suspect malignancy. Red skin, painful joint, fever, or the person is systemically unwell: suspect septic arthritis.
Usually, mild rotator cuff tears or sprains will heal within four weeks. In other severe cases, the recovery might take 4 to 6 months or even longer based on several factors such as the severity of the tear, age, and other health complications.
Rotator Cuff Tears are very common, especially as we get older. A tear in the cuff does not means a sentence for Surgery. Many patient recover from a full tear without surgery.
The drop arm test is used to assess for full thickness rotator cuff tears, particularly of the supraspinatus. This can be useful when diagnosing sub-acromial pain syndrome (shoulder impingment) or to differentiate between shoulder and rotator cuff pathologies.
In general, you'll want to avoid driving a car for at least six to 12 weeks, or until your doctor has indicated you no longer need to wear a sling. Driving with one arm is unsafe, and the shoulder that underwent surgery shouldn't be moved too far away from the body.
You may experience some mild soreness with muscle-toning exercises — ice applied to the shoulder should help relieve it — but if you develop sharp or severe pain, stop the exercises for a few days. Sit or stand holding a 5- to 10-pound weight in the hand of the affected shoulder.
Rotator cuff tendon tears often cause pain at night. The pain may even wake you. During the day, the pain is more tolerable, and usually only hurts with certain movements, such as overhead or reaching toward the back. Over time, the symptoms become much worse and are not relieved by medicines, rest, or exercise.
Moist heat, such as a hot bath, shower, or a heat pack, can help loosen up your shoulder when you feel pain in your shoulder. An ice pack applied to the shoulder 20 minutes at a time, 3 to 4 times a day, may also help cut down the swelling when you are in pain.
Rotator cuff disease is the most common cause of shoulder pain, particularly in people over age 30. Treatment focuses on resting the injured tendon to allow healing, decreasing inflammation, and correcting imbalances that caused stress on the injured area.
Rotator cuff pain commonly causes local swelling and tenderness in the front of the shoulder. You may have pain and stiffness when you lift your arm. There may also be pain when the arm is lowered from an elevated position. Beginning symptoms may be mild.
Rotator cuff injuries often result in a dull ache that can be felt deep in the shoulder. It can occur due to specific movements, such as lifting or lowering the arm. Some people experience discomfort during rest as well. Sleeping is often disturbed by pain, especially when lying on the affected shoulder.
Activities to Avoid with Shoulder Impingement
Weightlifting (especially overhead presses or pull downs) is problematic, so avoid that until you are cleared. Avoid swimming entirely until you have recovered. Avoid activities that keep your elbow from being aligned to your side.
People with shoulder injuries should initially refrain from exercises that encourage any movement or movement overhead. Forget about activities like throwing a ball or specific weight training at the gym like overhead presses and pull-ups.
Bench press is not harmful to the shoulders with the correct technique. However, without the correct technique the following conditions may arise. These include shoulder impingement, instability or rotator cuff injuries. Bench pressing with dumbbells may be a safer option compared to barbell bench press.
Bicep Curls
If done incorrectly, you risk injury to your rotator cuff, as well as other shoulder and arm muscles. Poor posture both in bicep curls and other areas of our lives can lead to improper execution of this exercise.