Physical Therapy for Torn Tendons in Shoulder

Physical therapy becomes necessary when there is a tear in the tendons in the shoulders. This often happens when the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles that attach to the shoulders, is injured. Pain in the shoulder joint results. People who play games such as basketball, baseball, tennis and cricket are prone to torn shoulder tendons. People who need to keep their hands raised over their heads for long periods of time, such as construction workers for instance, also are in the risk bracket.

Physical Therapy Regimen

• Physical therapy is a discipline of rehabilitative medicine that heals physical problems and injuries with the help of exercises. Physical therapy programs for torn shoulder tendons aim to bring the shoulder back to the pre-tear position. Physical therapy for torn shoulder tendons is usually carried out in four phases. The first phase covers a period of six weeks and focuses on developing range of motion through passive exercise. The next phase is from week six to 12, in which active assisted motions are used to strengthen intact cuff muscles. In the third phase, which goes through week 16, passive strengthening exercises work to stretch the hand beyond your current reach, while exercises also work to strengthen the injured muscle. Finally after week 16, the physical therapy regimen is usually complete.

Exercise 1

• In one exercise commonly used for torn shoulder tendons, you begin by sitting on a bench or stool. The feet should touch the ground. In this position, a dumbbell of as much weight as you can lift without effort is held in each hand. The hands have to be lifted with your arms on the sides of your body. Then, the weights have to be pushed forward until the hands bend at a 45-degree angle. The weights are then pulled back until the hands reach the same angle backwards. Throughout the exercise your feet should not be raised.

Other Exercises

• In the next set of exercises, you have to lie on a bench on your side, with the knees bent a little. Dumbbells have to be held with the left hand in front of the stomach, and the right hand has to be underneath the head raising it, as if forming a pillow. The weight should be lifted now, until the hand reaches 45 degrees, and has to be brought back to the original position. This can be repeated as many times as advised. Returning to the sitting posture, hold the dumbbells in each hand, and bring them to the chest and then back to the sides.

  Another set of exercises involves standing up, holding one dumbbell in the right hand and raising the hand until it is at face level, so you can look at it without moving the head. The same exercise should then be done with the left hand.