Last Updated Mar 2011
Rotator cuff rehab is a complex area. If your clients are facing this, they need to understand the importance of a positive and diliberate approach. There will be times when they willl doubt themselves, doubt that they are doing things right, and doubt they are making progress - this is natural. They key is to work with them to help them keep going and have faith in the program. Stopping and doing nothing is the very worst thing they can do.
Here are 3 key points for your clients to remember as they embark on their rotator cuff rehab program:
As part of rehab, a set of rotator cuff rehab exercises are provided. It is essential to complete them all. It doesn't do anyone any good to only complete the ones that are most enjoyable or most comfortable. There is no such thing as the best rotator cuff injury exercise or best rotator cuff stretch. Effective rotator cuff rehab has to be based upon a complete series of varied exercises.
Benefits of rehab
One of the key points with rotator cuff rehab is that the sooner you start the faster the recovery will be. Do not despair if you have an old injury; all is definitely not lost. It is never too late to start. Taking positive action at any point to improve and strengthen your cuff muscles will provide real and noticeable benefits.
What is going on that makes early intervention so desirable? Why is it so important?
Within damaged, inflamed or injured tissue there is increased fluid between the cells. New collagen tissue is laid down by the body in an attempt to heal the injured tissue. If the shoulder is immobilised, or not exercised correctly, the increased fluid means collagen will be laid down in a haphazard manner. This haphazard collagen production results in the creation of an excess of scar tissue.
One purpose of rotator cuff rehab, including stretching and strengthening is to avoid or reduce scarring. The exercises used are aimed at stimulating the laying down of collagen along the lines of stress and weakness. This leads to the formation of normal, healthy and strong tendon tissue.
Always remember to follow these simple rules. Warm up, exercise gently - the cuff muscles are small, include stretching exercises, always exercise comfortably within the limits of any pain. Yes it may be uncomfortable but STOP on pain!
Treatment with ice after rotator cuff rehab exercise and the use of anti - inflammatory drugs will help to reduce scarring. This should also reduce any potential stiffness. This in turn, will make exercise less painful in future providing for a positively reinforced cycle. The more you do, the easier it gets, the better the results, more movement - less pain and speedier recovery.
Author Steve Kaiser has used exercise to treat his own rotator cuff symptoms. Learn how you could do the same at Rotator Cuff Therapy Exercises.
Click here to read more about author Steve Kaiser
Why a series of exercises?