Key Benefits and Role of Physical Therapy for Rotator Cuff Injuries

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that is very mobile yet one of the most complex joints in the body. It facilitates physical function, allowing you to reach overhead, lift and throw objects, and perform several other daily activities comfortably. The shoulder joint consists of several components that ensure it is in the perfect shape to facilitate function. One of the most important components of the shoulder joint is the rotator cuff.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that surround the joint to provide stability and smooth, controlled movement. As important as the rotator cuff is to the shoulder joint, you may damage or injure it, reducing your overall quality of life over time. If you suffer from rotator cuff injuries, you may experience severe aches and pain in your shoulder, inability to lift or rotate your shoulder due to weakness, limited range of motion, and several other symptoms. These symptoms may even get worse if your rotator cuff injuries are left untreated for a long time, leading to chronic pain, restricted mobility, limited physical function, permanent shoulder damage, etc. Therefore, early treatment is crucial for rotator cuff injuries.

Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for rotator cuff injuries that does not require surgery. This non-invasive treatment procedure can address the root cause of shoulder pain, strengthen your shoulder muscles, restore shoulder functions, and prevent further complications. Therefore, this article will explore physical therapy’s approach to treating rotator cuff injuries and the key benefits you stand to gain when you undergo physical therapy at Summit Physical Therapy.

What are Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis) and their tendons that surround the shoulder joint. These muscles originate from the shoulder blade (scapula) and attach to the upper arm bone (humerus), forming a cuff over the shoulder. The rotator cuff muscles and their tendons work together to hold the head of the humerus in the socket on the shoulder blade (glenoid fossa) for stabilization. They also help to control the movement of the shoulder joint and enable a wide range of shoulder movements. 

Rotator cuff injuries may occur when the rotator cuff muscles or their tendons become partially or completely torn, inflamed, or overstretched, due to several factors. Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, affecting people of all ages and genders. These injuries may occur due to age-related degeneration, traumatic events such as falls and accidents, and overuse injuries from repetitive overhead movements. 

Rotator cuff injuries can lead to significant pain and weakness in the shoulder, leading to limited mobility and physical function. You may feel pain when you lift or reach for objects, perform overhead movements, or even swing your arm while walking. If rotator cuff injuries remain untreated for a long period, your symptoms may worsen and lead to other complications. 

Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries may develop suddenly or gradually over a long period due to several factors. Some of the most common causes of rotator cuff injuries include:

• Acute injuries: This type of rotator cuff injury occurs due to direct blow or impact to the shoulder from sudden trauma. Your rotator cuff tendons may partially or completely tear if you fall on your outstretched arm, lift heavy objects with an improper technique, or suffer a direct blow to the shoulder during a car accident or while playing contact sports. 

• Overuse injuries: These injuries occur due to repeated overhead motion, frequent heavy lifting with the wrong technique, and putting too much pressure on the shoulders. Overuse rotator cuff injuries are quite common in atheletes or individuals whose jobs involve heavy lifting or repetitive overhead motion because of the excessive strain they put on the shoulder joint. Over time, this repetitive strain may cause an inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons or microtears in the rotator cuff muscles, causing pain and limiting physical function.

• Age-related degeneration: As we grow older, there is a gradual decline in various body systems, including the musculoskeletal system. For example, the rotator cuff muscles and tendons may lose their elasticity and strength, leading to constant wear and tear. This is why rotator cuff injuries are most common in individuals above the age of 40. Rotator cuff injuries that occur due to age-related degeneration develop slowly and may go unnoticed for a long period. 

• Poor posture: Chronic poor posture is one of the risk factors for developing musculoskeletal conditions. If you keep bad posture while sitting, standing, or walking, you may disrupt your shoulder mechanics and place an excessive strain on the rotator cuff and shoulder joint. 

• Impingement: This is a condition that occurs when one of the rotator cuff’s tendons is pinched or compressed in the shoulder joint due to overuse, injuries, and other medical conditions. 

These and many more are factors that may cause rotator cuff injuries. 

Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries

You may experience several symptoms if you suffer from rotator cuff injuries. These symptoms may vary, depending on the type of rotator cuff injury and its severity. Some of the most common rotator cuff injuries that you may experience include:

• Dull, aching, or sharp pain
• Weakness in the shoulder and arms
• Clicking or popping sensation in the shoulders
• Limited range of motion
• Shrinking of shoulder muscles (Muscle atrophy) over time
• Swelling and tenderness around the shoulder joint, etc.

If you suffer from rotator cuff injuries, your shoulder pain may worsen at night or when you perform specific activities. These symptoms of rotator cuff injuries limit your shoulder’s physical functions.

Role of Physical Therapy in Rotator Cuff Therapy

Physical therapy is a healthcare practice that focuses on restoring, maintaining, and promoting physical function, mobility, and overall physical health through several non-invasive techniques and patient education. This treatment method is one of the most effective ways to treat rotator cuff pain because it addresses underlying issues permanently without causing complications in the future, unlike pain-relieving medications, surgery, and other options. If you undergo rotator cuff physical therapy, you can relieve shoulder pain, restore shoulder function, and prevent a need for surgery. 

Physical therapy programs are often structured to meet individual treatment needs and goals. This makes the treatment option very effective since your treatment plan will be structured to reflect the severity of your injury, age, activity level, specific treatment goals, etc. You may undergo a comprehensive assessment (medical history review, physical examinations, imaging tests, etc) before treatment to determine the best approach to meet your needs. 

Physical therapists employ several non-invasive techniques and other modalities during rotator cuff treatment. Some of the most common physical therapy techniques and modalities that you may experience if you undergo physical therapy include:

• Manual therapy (massage, joint mobilization, myofascial release, trigger point release, etc)
• Therapeutic exercises (strengthening and range-of-motion exercises)
• Proprioceptive and neuromuscular training
• Functional training
• Postural and ergonomic training
• Patient education
• Other modalities (heat and cold therapy, dry needling, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, etc)

Key Benefits of Physical Therapy for Rotator Cuff Injuries

Physical therapy is an effective treatment option for musculoskeletal injuries because it treats them by addressing underlying issues, providing long-term relief and preventing future reoccurence. The following are some of the key benefits you stand to gain if you undergo physical therapy in Merrick, NY:

Pain Management

Immediate pain relief is one of the primary goals of physical therapy for rotator cuff injuries because of the physical and mental damage that pain causes. Therefore, physical therapy employs several non-invasive techniques and modaities, such as manual therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound therapy, heat and cold therapy, etc, to reduce inflammation and relieve shoulder pain and discomfort without the need for surgery. 

Strengthening of the Shoulder Muscles

Weakness of the shoulder muscles is one of the common causes of rotator cuff injury. At the same time, it is one of the consequences of rotator cuff injury. Therefore, physical therapists try to address muscle weakness through progressive strengthening programs. These strengthening programs are typically made up of therapeutic exercises, such as isometric, resistance band, scapula strengthening, and closed-chain exercises.

Improved Range of Motion

Rotator cuff injuries restrict your range of motion by taking away your ability to move your shoulder in every possible direction. As a result, you may be unable to perform daily activities, such as reaching overhead, throwing objects, dressing up, etc. However, physical therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and gentle stretching exercises can loosen and lengthen tight muscles and tendons, leading to smoother shoulder movement. 

Faster Recovery

Physical therapy techniques, such as manual therapy, improve blood circulation, ensuring that the oxygen and nutrients in the blood get to where they are needed the most. As a result, improved blood circulation can trigger healing, leading to faster recovery. This ensures that you can regain your full shoulder function without undergoing surgery. 

Prevention of Future Injury

Physical therapy is considered one of the most effective treatment method despite being a non-invasive procedure because it addresses the root cause of pain and dysfunction. In addition to treatment, physical therapists equip their patients with the knowledge of proper posture, lifting mechanics, and ergonomic adjustments in their home and workplace. All of these factors play an essential role in reducing or totally eliminating the risks of future injury. 

These and many more are some of the benefits that physical therapy offers over other treatment options for rotator cuff injuries. 

Conclusion

Rotator cuff injuries cause severe pain and limit your physical function, making it harder to perform your daily activities comfortably. If left untreated for a long time, rotator cuff injuries can cause chronic pain and other complications. Therefore, if you suspect that you injured your rotator cuff, consider getting a diagnosis and undergoing physical therapy at Summit Physical Therapy