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Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment Might Not Need The Surgeon's Knife

By: Nick Bryant


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A torn rotator cuff can come about for a variety of reasons. For some of us it will happen as a result of wear and tear as we get past fifty. Although this is an injury that is most common in the older population, it can also come about as the result of a knock or fall or even simply through a repetitive action such as throwing a baseball . This is why it is sometimes called pitcher's shoulder.

Corrective surgery is usually restricted to the unlucky few who have either managed to get a full thickness tear or who do not respond to conservative treatment.

So what is the best form of torn rotator cuff treatment?

First off you need to rest the muscles! You have to let the shoulder heal properly and if you continue to use it, either it will slow down the recovery process or the worst case scenario is that you will make the injury worse. Depending on which of the cuff tendons you have damaged different shoulder movements will be painful. The usual symptoms for a Supraspinatus tear for example are pain when reaching for anything or when lifting your arm above shoulder height, pain when reaching behind you and difficulty sleeping because the shoulder is so tender. If you continue to do the same movements that you find painful you are going to further damage the muscle which could leave you with a full thickness muscle tear that will certainly need surgery.

After resting the muscle, you need to treat the inflammation and pain. This can be done by using anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen or with steroid injections. Treating the inflammation will often alleviate any pain or discomfort because a lot of the pain in shoulder injuries is caused by swollen tendons getting pinched. Ultra sound can also be used to help with the inflammation and can also prompt healing.

Once the muscle has settled down and movement has eased up it is time to start exercising the rotator cuff muscles to build up their strength. Torn rotator cuff treatment will involve small exercises with little or no weight or resistance. These are small muscles that often suffer injury as a result of neglect. Most of us don't understand how important these muscles are until we manage to injure them, but they are key to having a strong and healthy shoulder joint, as they hold the arm into the socket as we lift and move. A small increase in the strength of the rotator cuff can have a dramatic affect on the overall strength of the shoulder joint.

Rotator cuff specific exercises are needed. If you start working out with weights this is likely to just work the major muscles of the shoulder and do nothing for the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff exercises will isolate these muscles and get them working again. You'll be surprised just how quickly your shoulder joint will get better once you get these muscles back to full health.

But remember, rest and treat the inflammation before you start any rotator cuff exercises. If you need to modify how you work in order to rest your shoulder then do it. Working through a rotator cuff injury can only lead to further injury.

And finally. It is worth mentioning that self diagnosis of shoulder problems is not a good idea. Different injuries need different treatments and it's worth getting it right just to avoid further problems.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Rotator Cuff Specific Exercises are the quickest way back to a healthy shoulder. I know because it worked for me. Check out the torn rotator cuff treatment that stopped me needing surgery. Read my story here www..myrotatorcuffcure.blogspot.com

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