Rotator cuff surgery is commonly performed on sports figures or on those who injure muscles, ligaments and tendons in the shoulder joint following repetitive sports injury, such as actions involved in throwing a baseball or football. However, you may also incur a rotator cuff injury in a car accident, performing manual labor, or simply falling down and injuring the connective tissues of the shoulder. In some cases, you may need surgery to repair the damage. Following surgery, you may be advised to engage in early rotator cuff injury exercises that will help you slowly regain function and strength in the injured shoulder.
Healing Time
Depending on the severity of your rotator cuff injury and the treatment or procedure offered by your doctor, you may begin some early rotator cuff exercises in about four to six weeks. Following surgery, the rotator cuff may be immobilized and supported with a sling to aid the healing process. The degree of healing time may also be determined by the surgical approach. Laparoscopic or arthroscopic techniques offer less tissue damage and quicker healing time than other forms of surgical repair, so follow the advice of your doctor regarding the proper time to start with an exercise program.
Following Surgery
Continuous passive motion machines, also known as CPM, will be engaged in the recovery room following surgery. Your affected arm will be placed in the machine and gently strapped in. The machine is set for speed and range of motion by the health care provider and offers passive range of motion to gently exercise your shoulder joint to maintain as much range of motion as possible. The machine may move your arm toward and away from your chest as well as up and down, with elbow bent, depending on the type of device utilized by the facility.
Stretching
On the day following surgery, you may be shown, either by a physical therapist or by the doctor, how to perform gentle stretching motions that will help hasten healing and maintain movement and motion of the shoulder joint. One of the most common early stretching exercises is a forward shrug. You'll be guided in slowly rotating the shoulders forward, or bringing both shoulders toward the front of the body, then pressing them out to the side in order to prevent stiffness caused by healing tissues, including scar tissue, and helping to reduce stiffness and immobility.
Passive Range of Motion
Passive range of motion exercises are performed by a physical therapist, not by the patient. The therapist will carefully brace your shoulder and arm to protect the healing rotator cuff, while offering adequate support for gentle range of motion exercises that may be performed during the first three weeks following surgery. One such exercise is the elbow flexion and extension exercise. Facing you, the therapist will carefully brace your elbow and wrist joint. Making sure your arm remains on the same plane with your shoulder, she'll start with the hand of the affected side near the shoulder. She'll slowly lower your hand and forearm toward the arm of a chair or table to about 45 degrees, and then slowly raise your hand up toward the shoulder again.
Shoulder Blade Press
Patients recovering from rotator cuff surgery should also perform exercises to keep the muscles of the upper back and scapula strong and limber. Gently working the serratus anterior muscle and lower trapezius muscles may help with stabilization. Sit straight with your shoulders back. Very slowly press the shoulder blades in a downward motion, hold for a moment or two, and then allow them to return to their normal position.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Rotator Cuff Tears
- University of Washington: Recovering from Surgery - Repair of Rotator Cuff Repairs
- Orthopaedic Surgery Center of Excellence: Rehabilitiation Protocol for Rotator Cuff Sugery
- The American Journal of Sports Medicine: Electromyographic Analysis of Specific Exercises for Scpular Control in Early Phases of Shoulder Rehabilitation
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