The Need for Rotator Cuff Exercises
July 30, 2011 by: Erica AndrewsIf a person has had surgery to fix the rotator cuff, it’s likely that their recovery won’t be complete without ongoing rotator cuff exercise and therapy. The time to start these exercises, though, will depend on the severity of the actual tear.Rotator cuff exercises start gradually. The elbow will be stiff from the arm being in a sling. So, the starting point to help loosen it back up. There will be no lifting whatsoever in the beginning, nor any pulling or pushing.
To start with, Codman rotator exercises perk-up the muscles with some moderation in moving the active muscles. The exercise involves the moving of the torso forward, gently swinging the arm away from the body. The motion is exactly likened to the movement of a pendulum. Rotation exercises begin with just small circles. It then, slowly progresses to wider ones. The rationale of the exercise is to prevent other muscles and tendons to collide. Most of the Codman rotator exercises are done at home.
A physical therapy exercise known as PROM or Passive Range of Motion is also used after surgery. In the same manner as that of the Codman Rotator Cuff exercise, this one is also therapist- initiated. However, this one is more effective because the therapist helps in the exercise.
The therapist is responsible and counter- checking the accuracy of the exercises. The close monitoring prevents accidental injuries in case the exercises are not performed well.
Active Assistive Range of Motion rotator cuff exercises will now involve the shoulder, but only at a minimum. This teaches the muscle how to be used again. It will be with minimal stress and only increased gradually. This type of exercise is only done with a physical therapist.
When the right time comes, the patient will be able to exercise regularly without the therapist’s help. Recuperating from a rotator cuff surgery takes some time. The process is tedious and tiring. The best way is to have the injury checked to avoid serious problems in the future.
To get more information on Rotator Cuff Exercises and Rotator Cuff Injuries, visit www.fixrotatorcuff.com.
