Rotator cuff tears are not an isolated problem. In fact, every year, at least two million patients require a visit to their doctor because of this condition, per the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Some 30% of people under 70 years old are prone to a rotator cuff tear due to many factors, such as the person’s age, types of physical activities, nature of the job and family history.
However despite being common, a rotator cuff tear may result in permanent problems if it’s not given the proper attention and treatment. Although resting your shoulder and taking painkillers might help, physical therapy in Doral is quite important to facilitate recovery and allow you to regain your range of motion faster.
What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?
A rotator cuff tear is an injury of the muscles and tendons of shoulders. It might manifest the following symptoms:
- Shoulder pain that grows worse with movement
- Shoulder weakness and discomfort
- Popping or clicking sound when moving the arms
- Pain-restricted movements when lifting the arms to put on clothes or brush the hair
This condition is prevalent among aging people above 50 years old. However, it is also common among young athletes or workers whose job entails physically exerting their shoulders, such as those in construction.
The shoulder joints have one of the most complex mechanisms in the body and rotator cuff is responsible for stabilizing the joints, especially during movements. Naturally, when it is torn, its functions may be compromised and the tear may be acute or chronic. In either case, however, physical therapy may help regardless of the circumstances.
How Physical Therapy in Doral Helps
Doral physical therapy services won’t directly treat the torn tendon following an accident or repetitive stress on the body part. However, physical therapy is usually the first recommended procedure before other drastic measures are taken to repair the torn tendon, such as surgery.
The main objective of physical therapy for rotator cuff tear is to:
- Achieve pain relief
- Reduce inflammation and swelling
- Improve the strength of the arms and shoulders
- Restore joint movements
- Regain range of motion
When the muscles of your shoulder joints have stiffened or weakened, physical therapy can progressively improve its strength so that you can be a lot more mobile again. Some physical therapy programs make use of equipment and exercises that can teach you how to limit stress on your shoulders. This further reduces the possibility of you impairing your arm when you get back to work or continue with your favorite sports.
With the right treatment program, physical therapy may be adapted in conjunction with other rotator cuff tear treatments such as pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, or cortisone injections. This program also targets the smaller and often neglected muscles in the rotator cuff to improve the shoulder joints so that surgery might not be necessary.
A study in the journal Bone and Joint suggests that physical therapy might be enough to manage rotator cuff tears. In some cases, it can produce results that may be comparable to the effects of surgery, especially when done in successive and regular sessions for a period of at least 6 months.
Hands on Therapy Services – your occupational and physical therapy destination!
At Hands on Therapy Services, Hoang Tran’s and other therapists’ mission is to help you make the best decisions about what to do for your health and well-being. With their help, you will receive answers you need and professional help that will bring you back to full recovery.
Our Miami and Doral clinics offer an open and friendly physical therapy environment where you will feel comfortable being treated by a therapist in a one-on-one setting.
If you live in Miami or Doral, and you are having elbow pain, or nagging discomfort, you must be looking to ease your mind about what can be done to help. No matter how long it’s been – weeks, months, or even years – Hands on Therapy Services staff will be happy to answer ALL the questions you have, regarding physical therapy in Doral or physical therapy in Miami.
Contact Us to make an appointment, or request information.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
