The rotator cuff consists of four muscles. When the arm is moved away from the side of the body more than 90 degrees, these muscles provide stability to the shoulder joint. The shoulder has the ability to move in all directions and is very vulnerable to injury. If the arm is pinned behind the back or in a stretched out position during a fall, the rotator cuff muscles can be injured.
Injury
Poor posture can affect the rotator cuff. Weak shoulder muscles can cause the rotator cuff tendons to get trapped between two bones, becoming pinched. Repetitive motion such as playing tennis can also cause rotator cuff tendonitis. This can create pain, swelling and decreased movement. Over time, the patient may experience a sharp pain when reaching for an object. This continued damage from repetitive movements will eventually lead to muscle weakness.
Ultrasound Treatment
Ultrasound is used to treat the rotator cuff. A medical device sends a high-frequency sound wave into injured tissue. The sound wave is transmitted from a hand-held wand through a conductive gel into the tissue. When the rotator cuff is injured, there can be inflammation, swelling and scar tissue. The sound waves create a vibrating effect to move fluids out of the rotator cuff back toward the circulatory system.
Benefits
Ultrasound treatment can accelerate wound healing, reduce scar tissue and make tissue more elastic so that a tight muscle can be stretched easier. It can also drive medication creams applied to the skin into muscles, tendons and ligaments. Ultrasound is performed by a licensed medical provider, since damage to the tissue can occur if the treatment is not done properly. If the rotator cuff has calcification from chronic irritation, ultrasound can be applied to break it up.
Procedure
The patient is placed in a comfortable position, and the therapist applies the ultrasound for eight to 15 minutes in a circular or straight slow pattern of movement. After the treatment, the rotator cuff will be stretched. This may be followed by specific exercises to retrain the rotator cuff muscles and to improve coordination and strength. Most rotator cuff injuries do not require surgery.
Precautions
Ultrasound should applied only by a medical provider. If the hand wand is not moved properly, bone tissue heats up, causing severe pain. Patients with advanced heart disease or who have pacemakers should not receive ultrasound treatments, nor should pregnant women. Patients with infections, tumors, cancer and skin numbness over the injured site also should not receive ultrasound.
References
- "Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders"; Randolph Kessler; 1983
- "Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques"; Carolyn Kisner; 1990
