subject: Rotator Cuff Recovery - Pros and Cons of Different Treatments [print this page] Rotator Cuff Recovery - Pros and Cons of Different Treatments
For a full rotator cuff recovery there are different treatments available, all with their time and place but also side effects and negative aspects, except for one: a rehabilitation program based of peculiar rotational movements to strengthen the rotator cuff.
Here is a list of the main treatments available:
1) Anti inflammatories, both prescription or over the counter.
2) Cortisone injections.
3) Ice packs.
4) Hot packs
5) Ultrasounds.
6) Manipulation.
7) Surgery
8) Rotator cuff exercises.
Anti inflammatories are always prescribed to soothe inflammation and relieve pain in most disorders and injuries such as a tear, a Frozen Shoulder, a Bursitis, a Tendonitis, an Impingement or post surgery. They can be useful as a quick and temporary solution to a problem, but they do not cure the disorder or injury at root level, come with side effects and do not speed up recovery times. On the contrary, they can lead to a self fueling circle of dependency.
Cortisone injections should be used only in most severe cases because of negative side effects.
Ice packs are a natural remedy to reduce the swelling of an inflammation and are used for Impingement, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Frozen Shoulder and tears. They do not have side effects, are inexpensive and partially or temporarily effective. While they are helpful, they are also impractical and require constant re-application.
Considerations for hot pack are the same as for cold pack, the only difference is that they are beneficial in case of a Frozen Shoulder, as heat helps soften up the adhesions, scars of coarse tissue of the membrane capsule surrounding the rotator cuff which cause the disorder in the first place. Again they are only mildly effective and require constant application.
Ultrasounds are again meant to be a Frozen Shoulder treatment, aiming to break the adhesions and restore full range of motion. They are minimally effective though they carry no side effects, but again they require surgery appointments and are time consuming.
Manipulation is the breaking of the adhesions performed by the surgeon moving the patient arm under general anesthesia due to the high pain threshold. It is not surgery proper as no incision is made, but still requires general anesthesia, so it is a decision not to be taken lightly. However, it is very effective. A full rehabilitation program of rotator cuff exercises must follow manipulation for full recovery and to prevent a relapse (more on that in a moment).
Surgery, or arthroscopy in this case, is the elimination of the problem by the surgeon for any disorder or injury severe enough to justify it. Like manipulation, a full rehabilitation program must follow, initiating with a passive phase performed by the therapist, followed by an active phase, a strengthening phase and a full recovery phase.
Finally the exercises for rotator cuff. These are by far the best rotator cuff recovery treatment as they can slash recovery times to a fraction, reducing pain and inflammation naturally, strengthening the cuff and eliminating dependency on drugs. They can be used both as a remedial treatment following surgery, a tear or a disorder, or they can be implemented and a preventive measure to strengthen the rotator cuff and provide foundation for all shoulder movements.
Cuff exercises consist of few key internal and external rotation movements with little or no resistance applied and they should always be used in conjunction with other treatments as the core part of a recovery process. They do not carry side effects and are completely natural, eliminating the need for anti inflammatories and the pain.
They are the best rotator cuff recovery method for over all effectiveness and practicality. In fact, they can be implemented at home any time, not just at the therapist surgery, and can save a lot of money wasted on drugs in the process.
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