What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?
The Rotator Cuff Tear is a very common injury we treat at Trained Physio Perth. Your shoulder is supported by four muscles that work to stabilize the joint where your arm meets your shoulder blade. These muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus teres minor and subscapularis – the tendons of these four muscles blend to form the rotator cuff. A Rotator Cuff Tear Physio is an injury to one or more of these muscles or tendons in your shoulder.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms Perth:
Rotator cuff tears often present with the following:
- Shoulder weakness
- Difficulty and/or pain lifting your arm
- Night time pain, especially when lying on your shoulder
- Crepitus (cracking/clicking sensation in the joint)
Types of Rotator Cuff Tears:
Non-traumatic tears – Typically occur without a specific mechanism of injury and are usually due to a degenerative process such as tendinopathy. These types of tears become more common with age and typically respond very well to exercise-based rehab programs.
Traumatic tears – Usually occur with a specific injury where there is immediate shoulder pain, such as a fall. Management of traumatic tears can often be similar to non-traumatic tears, however there may be a place for imaging to determine the extent of the injury and evaluate if a surgical referral may be needed.
In addition to traumatic and non-traumatic, rotator cuff tears can also be classified as partial or full-thickness. Partial tears can be further sub-classified based on their location and size. A tear is considered full thickness when it is larger than 5cm in size or multiple tendons are involved.
Can Physio Help my Rotator Cuff Tear?
A majority of cases, especially partial tears, will recover well with a conservative approach including active exercise rehabilitation with a qualified Trained Physio. In the case of larger, full thickness tear, that may not have responded to a course of conservative management, surgery may be indicated. Younger people with traumatic, full thickness rotator cuff tears are typically better candidates for surgery.
Recovery After Rotator Cuff Repair
Rehab after a rotator cuff repair is typically split into three main phases:
Phase 1 – Consists primarily of protecting the repair site. After a repair, the tendon takes time to properly reattach and integrate into the bone. This typically takes about 6 weeks. You spend the majority of this 6 weeks in a sling to protect the graft while doing gentle range of motion exercises for the neck, elbow, wrist and hand.
Phase 2 – Consists of regaining functional strength and mobility in the shoulder. At this point the tendon is mostly full integrated and it is time to work with your Physio on more exercise to regain full range of motion and strength through the shoulder.
Phase 3 – Typically involves more challenging, dynamic exercises tailored towards your specific needs. This will involve exercises that replicate the daily demands of whatever activity you are working back towards, so it is key to work with your Perth Physio and have a plan that is specifically designed for you and your needs.
How Trained Physio can help
Physiotherapy has several goals including promote healing, reduce pain, avoiding aggravation, optimising physical function and global strengthening to restore normal movement patterns. Our Trained Physio’s will work with you to understand your specific injury and your daily demands in order to design a rehab program custom built for you.
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What you can expect from Trained Physio:
- Thorough assessment and treatment of your injury
- Comprehensive exercise rehab from the date of your injury, through to your return to full activity
- Assessment into why the injury occurred in the first place, and what can be done to keep you injury-free
- Manual therapy, dry needling and other treatment-specific techniques as needed
- Training modifications to keep you as active as possible whilst undergoing rehab (if necessary)
- Use of our fully equipped rehabilitation facility for exercise rehab
East Perth Trained Physio
Trained Physio East Perth has several goals including promote healing, reduce pain, avoiding aggravation, optimising physical function and global strengthening to restore normal movement patterns. To see how we can help you BOOK ONLINE TODAY
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