Chitika

Chitika

fredag 18 december 2009

Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery and What You Need to Know

By Tom Nicholson

There are two important parts to any rotator cuff surgery recovery. You need science, art, the medical professionals involved will provide the science, and you provide the art. Your physical therapist and surgeon have the science in their fingertips while you must have the art of knowing your body. There is of course also a support aspect to the entire process and that is the support of family or friends who will help you during recovery. It will take everyone working as a team to speed you to a healthy recovery.

First Things First

Depending on the type of surgery performed, you may or may not be required to stay in the hospital after the operation. For example, if you had arthroscopic surgery, you can return home within the day. If you had open surgery, then you have to stay for 1-2 days in the hospital.

Regardless of the type of surgery, however, you will be required to wear a protective sling. This will aid in faster rotator cuff surgery recovery precisely because it will keep the arm and shoulder muscles as relaxed as possible. Keep in mind, however, that your physical therapist will help you perform passive exercises almost as soon as you get out of the hospital. This will ensure that your muscles do not atrophy and form debilitating scars.

During Recovery Exercises

There are four distinct phases of recovery, passive motion, active motion, strengthening and full activity. During each of these recovery phases, you will have specific exercises to do. Your physical therapist will provide you with the details for each area of recovery and the proper exercises you must do, they will generally fall into one of three categories, beginning, advanced and strengthening.

The first level exercises can be done with or without your physical therapist. Once you have been shown, the proper way to do the beginning exercises you will be able to do them at home unassisted. These exercises will generally be things like elbow flexion, forward rotation, grip exercises and extensions among others. Talk with your therapist about when you can transition from passive to active exercises. Moving too quickly into active motion will stress your shoulder and slow down your rotator cuff surgery recovery.

Advanced exercises will be performed around 6-8 weeks after your surgery. These exercises will encourage you to use a full range of motion and should be repeated about 10-15 times daily. Your therapist will set these exercises up and instruct you thoroughly on the correct way to perform exercises such as internal rotation and cross body adductions.

Third, strengthening exercises aim to restore strength to your otherwise weakened muscles. This way, you can indeed go back to your daily activities even in sports.

Weight lifting will be required at this stage of recovery but you have to remember not to overdo it. Since not stressing the shoulder muscles is so important, your physical therapist should outline a personal training regimen. This regimen will include internal, external and pressing exercises.

In any of these exercises, you must immediately consult with your doctor when your wound starts to exhibit signs of redness, uncommon warmth and oozing fluid or when you develop a fever or when your pain becomes intolerable. Any of these factors will affect how fast and how well you tread the path of rotator cuff surgery recovery.

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