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Posted on October 21, 2009 by Nick Bryant | Posted under Exercise
A Rotator Cuff Problem is more common than you might think
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Between fifty five and sixty percent of those will be diagnosed as having a rotator cuff problem. It doesn't help to find that you are only one of millions but at least it means that there is research going on about shoulder injuries. It also means that there are a lot of resources and information available to help. Whatever you do, don't try to work through a painful shoulder. Unlike a lot of other muscular injuries, nearly all shoulder injuries will only deteriorate if you carry on using them. There are really only two or three major causes of shoulder injury. Aging leading to wear and tear, a repetitive movement, a direct injury such as a knock to the shoulderor a fall or as in my case, trying to lift something that was just too heavy. You will experience pain, weakness and a loss of movement. A classic symptom of shoulder injuries is being unable to raise your arm above shoulder height or to the side or in front of you. The amount of movement restriction is a good pointer to the amount of damage that you have suffered. Most injuries in the shoulder involve the muscles, ligaments, tendons and cartilage of the joint rather than the any injury to the bones. There are seventeen different muscles in and around the shoulder joint any one of which can lead to a painful shoulder. Because the majority of shoulder injuries involve damage to the soft tissue rather than bones physical therapy features strongly in most of the treatments but it is essential that you do exercises that are designed for your particular injury as the wrong exercises can cause more damage and cause serious problems. The rotator cuff is a perfect example of this. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that help stabilise the shoulder joint. They all connect the shoulder blade to the upper arm bone. They are small muscles but essential for a healthy shoulder joint. These muscles run under and over other muscles and one of them, the supraspinatus muscle, even runs through a channel in the collar bone or clavicle. If you damage this muscle it can swell under the collar bone. Continuing to use this muscle can result in partial or complete tearsthat will need corrective surgery. Most shoulder injury thearapies will focus on RICE. Rest, ice, compression and elevation but will also often focus on strengthening the rotator cuff muscles to improve stability in the joint. Any exercise that works on this group of muscles will involve small weights and specific movements that do not stress the muscles. If you experience pain then you are doing it wrong. The blood supply to the shoulder muscles is not very good and anything you do to stimulate the blood supply will help with recovery. Massage and heat will both help to increase the blood supply and speed up recovery. It is important to keep you shoulder as mobile as much as you can without causing yourself pain. Exercises where you do not use the muscles of the injured arm will help. Lifting the injured arm with the good arm for example or simply swinging the arm gently can help but stop immediately if you experience any painSee a doctor and find out what is wrong but also research your shoulder injury and the best way to fix it. Remember knowledge is power! About The Author: If you found this article interesting check out my full story at www..myrotatorcuffcure.blogspot.com My name is Nick Bryant and I tore my rotator cuff lifting something that was too heavy. Despite being told that I would need surgery I have managed a full recovery with just exercise. Check out how here |
Tags: ROTATOR CUFF
