The short answer to this question is maybe. In some situations, when the rotator cuff is badly torn, surgery rather than exercise is the recommended treatment. In other situations, it is advisable to keep moving the shoulder area and begin rehabilitation as soon as possible. Rotator cuff injuries can be hard to diagnose. If possible, have your shoulder injury evaluated by a specialist. When you return to working out, have your exercise routine monitored by a physical therapist.
Rotator Cuff
As the Shoulder-Pain-Management website explains, the rotator cuff stabilizes the joint of your shoulder when you move it. The shoulder joint is composed of four different muscles, the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor and the subscapularis. Each muscle moves the shoulder in a different direction but they work together in stabilizing the shoulder joint. The terms "rotator cuff tear" and "shoulder tendinitis" are sometimes used interchangeably, but both describe a tear, strain or inflammation in the rotator cuff muscles or tendons.
Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries are often caused by general wear and tear. As The Stretching Institute website explains, the tendons of rotator cuff muscles receive a relatively small amount of blood, so the tendons, somewhat deprived of oxygen and nutrients, tend to degenerate over time. The other main cause of rotator cuff injuries is excessive force to the shoulder, which can be caused by lifting too much weight, during contact sports such as football and soccer and from the repetitive overhead arm motions used by baseball pitchers and tennis players.
Exercise
The amount of time to wait to resume exercise depends on how fast you heal. If you start strengthening exercises too soon, you may further damage the rotator cuff. If you wait too long, shoulder muscles may weaken. The Shoulder-Pain-Management website advises people with a rotator cuff injury to always consult with your a physician before starting to exercise again.
Considerations
Although surgery is often prescribed for a torn rotator cuff, there are nonsurgical options in some cases that involve exercise routines to strengthen the shoulder joint. Such options involve pain relief and exercises to increase the range of motion of your shoulder. If you are assigned exercises for a torn rotator cuff or any other kind of shoulder joint problem, remember to exercise properly by warming up properly and building up your strength slowly. Shoulder-Pain-Management suggests exercising the shoulder every other day to give muscles a chance to recover between workouts, unless, of course, your doctor or physical therapist advises otherwise.
