Rotator Cuff Treatment

If you're looking for some of the greatest range of motion the body has to offer, look no further than your rotator cuff, which stabilizes the shoulder by connecting the upper arm bone and shoulder blade. It also holds the ball of the upper arm firmly in place in the socket. When an injury occurs, the rotator cuff needs attention and treatment. The type of treatment depends on the injury it has obtained.

Significance

• Rotator cuff treatment will vary according to the injury done to the cuff. Some injuries can be simple inflammation of the muscle, while other injuries can be serious partial or complete muscle tears, requiring surgery. Though most injuries of the rotator cuff are able to heal on their own with self-care and physical therapy, there are times when this treatment is not sufficient, making it imperative to know the types of injuries and when to seek medical care.

Chronic Tear

• This injury becomes worse over a period of time due to an activity that affects the muscle. It typically affects those who have occupations such as painting or play sports such as baseball that require repetitive overhead movements. The goal of treatment is pain management, accomplished with rest and over-the-counter medications including Tylenol or ibuprofen. If the pain does not improve over time, the doctor may prescribe steroid injections, better known as cortisone shots, and physical therapy.

Acute Tear

• This injury occurs most frequently when a sudden, powerful force is applied against the arm or shoulder, like when you attempt to stop yourself from falling or you fall on the shoulder itself. The best initial treatment for an acute tear is the application of ice for 15- to 20-minute intervals throughout the day, for the first two days. This, accompanied with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or Aleve, will help reduce swelling and pain. Supporting the shoulder in a sling during the day will also remove stress from the rotator cuff muscles. This type of injury usually requires surgery within the first three weeks to repair the tendons. However, this can only be determined with diagnostic testing such as an MRI.

Tendinitis

• This rotator cuff injury is more common among older people since it is due to a degeneration of the muscles or repetitive movement from everyday activity. Initially, ice packs should be applied for 20 minutes throughout the day, accompanied with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and the use of a sling to support the rotator cuff. There are more severe cases of tendinitis which require steroid injections, the application of heat packs once ice packs have been used for two days, followed with passive range-of-motion exercises designed to increase the amount of motion in the shoulder slowly without placing too much stress on the rotator cuff. These exercises are generally performed with a physical therapist.

Self-Care

• When you injure your shoulder, the pain is not always an indication to the exact type of injury you have sustained. Therefore, you can try some self-care treatment methods for the first couple of days before going to your nearest emergency room or doctor's office. Always rest the shoulder in a sling to relieve it of any stress or pressure and apply ice packs for 15- to 20-minute intervals, three times a day. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs will help with the pain and swelling, and if after two or three days the pain has not improved, you cannot lift your arm above your head or you cannot work, you should seek medical care and treatment.