How to Throw After a Rotator Cuff Injury

The rotator cuff consists of four muscles, some tendons and ligaments and is located in the shoulder. It controls the mobility of the shoulder joint and is often injured in association with playing sports involving overhead movements such as baseball pitching, tennis and freestyle swimming. Depending on the severity of an individual's injury, surgery may be required. According to Dr. Rock Positano and Dr. Josh Dines on the website Huffingtonpost.com, "Ninety to 95 percent of people undergoing surgery for rotator cuff tears typically have good to excellent outcomes."

Instructions

Action Plan

• 1

  Visit your doctor and determine that you do have a rotator cuff injury. According to Dines and Positano, "Athletes with rotator cuff tears may complain of stiffness and pain during warm-up exercises. Pain is often most prominent during the acceleration phase of throwing or serving." But pain is not always a correct indicator. Lack of control of your arm and weakness is more reliable. The website uptodate.com points out that "a person with a partial tear may have severe pain while a person with a complete tear may have little or no pain."

• 2

  Get treatment as soon as possible when you have determined what type of injury you have and its severity. If you have a full tear, it is likely to get worse the longer you wait. You may never be able to throw anything at all again if you do not get treatment.

• 3

  Rest your shoulder. This is the least you are going to have to do in order to restore your rotator cuff, as some injuries such as mild tendonitis may heal on their own. Tears do not. You will need to undergo physical therapy, take anti-inflammatories and ice your shoulder to heal it. Healing should take about three to six months. You are only allowed to throw from the side or underhand. Never throw from above your shoulder.

• 4

  Resume throwing normally after five to six months of physical therapy--provided that your doctor says it is OK to do so. Be extra aware of your body and how it feels. Each time your shoulder feels weak, unstable, stiff or painful, stop throwing immediately, as you may have another injury.