subject: Rotator Cuff Exercises For Rehabilitation, Strengthening And Pain Relief [print this page] A physical therapy program based on specific rotator cuff exercises is the most effective treatment to rehabilitate an injured shoulder, to strengthen a weak cuff and to relieve pain. The shoulder joint is an incredibly complex mechanism that allows for the widest range of movement of any joint, while the rotator cuff surrounding it stabilizes the ball and socket joint keeping the arm bone safely into the shoulder.
Because of its complexity, the cuff is also susceptible to a variety of disorders and injuries. Common disorders like Shoulder Impingement, Tendonitis and Bursitis are caused by inflammations, while over use, repetitive motions or accidents may cause tears or dislocations. Therefore, there are many good reasons why a program of rotator cuff exercises should be used, from rehabilitation to prevention and strengthening. These exercises consist of rotational internal and external movements to be performed regularly, even from the comfort of home, as consistency plays a key factor for the success of a physiotherapy program.
The success of a rehabilitative program also varies depending on individual responsiveness and/or severity of the disorder or injury. Tendonitis, Bursitis and Shoulder Impingement are conditions that can last many months if left resolving naturally, but few key exercises performed daily can slash recovery times to a fraction, eliminating the need for anti inflammatory medication or cortisone injections.
In most cases surgery can be avoided, but following an arthroscopy, a torn cuff or a dislocation, a rehabilitative program is mandatory to help recover the muscles and tendons involved and reduce the risk of future injuries. Rehabilitation in these cases always starts with a passive phase performed by the therapist, followed by an active phase, a strengthening phase and a final resolving phase. The whole recovery period can last up to six months.
The rotator cuff exercises are so effective that can also be used as a preventive measure to avoid disorders or injuries from occurring in the first place. A weak rotator cuff is more prone to inflammations than a strong, flexible one. Likewise, people playing high dynamic sports like tennis, volleyball, baseball or golf involving repeated high stress action for the shoulder joint can only stand to gain from a conditioning program of rotator cuff exercises to be implemented alongside normal shoulder exercises like military presses and so on.
Many young sport people have an unbalanced rotator cuff, too weak for the high stress imposed by the other big shoulder muscles like the deltoid, while sedentary people may have poor posture problems that will eventually result in undue stress of the cuff, inflammations and disorders.
It is not just poor practices or lifestyles that cause a shoulder problem, as age and personal health can also play a factor. A Tendonitis, a Bursitis or an Impingement Syndrome usually strike people over 40, while tears are more common for young people playing sports or untrained older people. In any case, a program of specific rotator cuff exercises can significantly cut down recovery times for any shoulder disorder or injury and also work out as a very effective preventive measure against possible injuries or future conditions.
