Rehabilitation (Rotator Cuff injury)

The following guidelines are for information purposes only. We recommend seeking professional advice before beginning rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation of rotator cuff injuries should consist of reducing initial pain and inflammation, identifying and correcting any should abnormalities that might increase the chance of rotator cuf injury, regaining full shoulder mobility and finally strengthening up the joint.

Your chance of the injury recurring are increased by any of the following:

• If you have an unstable shoulder joint. An unstable shoulder joint means that there is a lot of movement and weakness in the joint. If you are not sure, see a sports injury professional. Failure to recognise this may mean the injury is likely to recur.
• If you have poor technique or bad training habits. Overuse or training too hard is just as likely to cause injury as poor technique. If you are not sure, find a good coach.
• If you have weakness in the rotator cuff muscles

Stage 1: To reduce the pain and inflammation.

• Apply cold therapy or ice to the shoulder. This will help reduce pain and inflammation. Apply ice for up to 15 minutes every hour, gradually reducing the frequency of applications as the shoulder improves.
  
• Rest the shoulder. Do not do anything that causes pain. Every time you cause pain, you are making the injury worse. If you need to use a sling to restrict movement then do so but only for a few days.
• NSAID or anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. ibuprofen) may help in the early stages. Always check with your Doctor before taking medication if you are not sure.
• Apply sports massage therapy. Simply applying pressure to the tendon initially may be all that is needed. As pain reduces, cross friction techniques may be applied. Click here for more information on sports massage techniques.

Stage 2: To re-establish range of motion and strength (usually 5 to 7 days after injury).

• Range of motion is done through mobility exercises, gradually increasing the range of motion the joint will go through pain free and specific stretching exercises to stretch all muscles around the shoulder joint. Click here for more information on shoulder stretching.
• Sports massage techniques can help to improve greatly the condition of the rotator cuff muscles, so allowing more joint flexibility and better response to strengthening exercises.
• Strengthening exercises concentrate more specifically on the external rotator muscles (the ones that rotate the arm out) and the scapular stabalisers (muscles that support the shoulder blade). It is also important to strengthen the whole joint.
• Strengthening exercises must be done pain free and in conjunction with stretching exercises. Click here for more information on shoulder strengthening.
  

Stage 3: To return the athlete to competition or specific training.

• These exercises need to be specifically tailored to the athletes sport. For example throwers would start throwing a tennis ball against a wall. Five sets of 20 throws gradually increasing the number of sets and number of repetitions assuming no pain during, after or the next day.