How to Recognize and Treat Rotator Cuff Injuries with Physiotherapy
Like many other injuries, it is important to recognize rotator cuff injuries and seek treatment early to prevent them from worsening. Rotator cuff injuries already cause severe pain and prevent you from carrying out your daily activities comfortably. If left untreated, they can lead to chronic pain, further reduced range of motion, and even permanent loss of shoulder function.
However, you do not have to suffer through all of these because physiotherapy offers a non-invasive yet effective pathway to recovery by reducing shoulder pain, restoring physical function, and strengthening the shoulder to prevent re-injury. Therefore, this article will teach you how to identify the signs of a rotator cuff injury early enough and explore effective physiotherapy treatments at Vira Physiotherapy that can get you back to your daily activities and recreational pastimes in no time.
How to Recognize Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries may develop suddenly or gradually. Recognizing these injuries early is important to prevent worsening damage and speed up recovery. Some of the signs and symptoms that indicate you may be suffering from a rotator cuff injury include:
- Persistent shoulder pain that lingers or worsens with overhead activities or lifting.
- Weakness in the shoulder that makes you experience difficulty lifting objects, reaching overhead, or rotating the arm outward/inward.
- A limited range of motion that prevents you from moving your arm in every naturally possible direction
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sensations from the tendons catching or rubbing against bone.
- Sharp, stabbing pain at the time of injury, followed by immediate weakness, in the case of acute tears.
- Shoulder tenderness
- Muscle atrophy (the shoulder muscles may appear smaller or sunken due to lack of use)
- Swelling or warmth around the shoulder (common with rotator cuff injuries, characterized by inflammation)
These and many more are signs and symptoms that indicate that you may be suffering from rotator cuff injuries. You should see a healthcare professional if you suffer from persistent shoulder pain that lasts more than a week and prevents you from performing your daily activities comfortably, because you may need rotator cuff physiotherapy.
Early diagnosis of rotator cuff injuries is important to prevent further damage and shorten your recovery time. Physiotherapy is one of the most effective non-invasive procedures that can treat and manage rotator cuff injuries, especially when you are trying to avoid surgery. Therefore, you may require physiotherapy in Edmonton, AB, after a positive diagnosis of rotator cuff injuries.
What Does Physiotherapy for Rotator Cuff Injuries Entail?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare specialty that aims to restore movement and physical function in individuals who have been affected by injury, illness, and other medical conditions. Physiotherapy for rotator cuff injuries involves a structured program designed to meet your specific diagnosis, pain level, and treatment goals. This program can relieve your shoulder pain, restore full shoulder function, and reduce the risk of future injury. Some of the most common components of shoulder pain physiotherapy include:
Initial Assessment
Your rotator cuff injury recovery journey will begin with a thorough evaluation by a physiotherapist, which may include medical history review, symptoms review, physical examination, and imaging tests (MRI or ultrasound), if needed. This helps your physiotherapist determine the severity of your condition and determine the best treatment approach.
Comprehensive treatment plan
After assessment, your physiotherapist will design a personalized treatment plan that meets all your treatment goals and needs based on your assessment results. Your treatment plan will include several noninvasive physiotherapy techniques that can help relieve and manage pain and restore mobility and physical function. Some of the most common physiotherapy treatment techniques that you may experience include:
- Manual therapy (Soft tissue massage, joint mobilization, joint manipulation, etc.)
- Therapeutic Exercises (Strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, scapular stabilization, etc.)
- Stretching routines
- Ultrasound therapy
- Electrical stimulation (TENS)
- Heat therapy
- Ice therapy
- Kinesiology taping
- Postural training, etc.
Patient Education
In addition to treatment, physiotherapists in Edmonton teach patients how to take care of their shoulders outside the clinic to enable them to participate actively in their recovery and maintain long-term shoulder health.
These are some of the primary components of physiotherapy that you can expect when you are getting treatment for rotator cuff injuries.
Conclusion
Rotator cuff injuries can cause severe pain and restrict your physical function, limiting your ability to perform your daily activities. However, physiotherapy can relieve rotator cuff pain and restore your physical function. Therefore, if you are suffering from rotator cuff injuries, you should consider undergoing physiotherapy at Vira Physiotherapy.