Rotator cuff injury? 4 ways physical therapists may support your recovery

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain while waving at a neighbor or carrying groceries, a rotator cuff injury might be the cause.

A rotator cuff injury can cause a variety of symptoms, such as pain and reduced range of motion, that interfere with your everyday activities. Many at-home treatments can help to reduce the symptoms, but physical therapy can actually work to accelerate the healing process and improve the overall quality of the affected area.

Read on to learn the basics about a rotator cuff injury as well as how physical therapists can help move you along the recovery journey. We’ll also discuss how KC Rehab can help you through your rotator cuff injury.

What to know about a rotator cuff injury

A rotator cuff injury refers to damage to the group of muscles and tendons that keep your shoulder in place. Any issue that impacts this area, such as a tear, tendinitis or nerve impingement, falls under the umbrella term of rotator cuff disease, which affects up to 22.4% of people over 40, with the risk increasing with age.

A rotator cuff injury can stem from traumatic impact, such as a fall or playing sports, as well as overuse from repetitive overhead movements. 

The symptoms can include:

• Shoulder pain, especially during movement

• Reduced shoulder mobility 

• Muscle weakness 

• Clicking sound or grating sensation during movement

It’s not uncommon for symptoms to worsen at night.

While a mild rotator cuff injury, such as a partial tear, can often heal on its own, more severe injuries may require surgery. 

4 ways physical therapy can help your rotator cuff injury recovery

When you’re trying to treat a rotator cuff injury, physical therapy is worth considering. A physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan based on the severity of your injury, physical capabilities and overall wellness goals. Your plan may include joint mobilization, targeted exercises, dry needling and the Graston Technique^®.

Here are four benefits of going to physical therapy for a rotator cuff injury recovery:

1. Pain management

If you’re seeking physical therapy, it’s likely because the pain from your rotator cuff injury is persistent or worsening. Pain management techniques in physical therapy can help reduce your pain to improve your quality of life. 

Through effective exercises and modalities such as dry needling, you should be able to notice improvement due to reduced pain throughout your day. 

2. Increased range of motion

Not being able to comfortably move your shoulder throughout the day can be frustrating, which is where physical therapy comes in. With targeted exercises, your physical therapist can help release tension and boost joint mobility in your rotator cuff so that you’re able to improve or even restore your shoulder’s range of motion.

3. Improved strength

Strengthening exercises are essential for most physical therapy treatment plans because boosting the strength of your muscles in a specific area, like the rotator cuff, has several different benefits. It can increase the stability of the affected joint for increased mobility while also reducing the stress placed on the joint, thereby reducing pain. 

Strengthening the affected muscles in your rotator cuff can also reduce the risk of future issues or injuries. Your physical therapist will teach you safe and effective exercises that won’t further damage the tissue.

4. Practicing daily movements

A major goal for treating a rotator cuff injury is to help you return to your everyday activities as comfortably and efficiently as possible. Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises to perform daily functions that may have been impacted by your injury, such as carrying items or reaching a top shelf.

The intensity of these exercises may slowly escalate if you do activities or sports that you’re trying to safely return to without reduced performance. 

KC Rehab’s physical therapists can help your rotator cuff injury

While ice and rest can help a rotator cuff injury at home, treatment from an expert can help you move along your recovery journey for more long-lasting results. At KC Rehab, our physical therapists will collaborate with you to create a treatment plan that provides multifaceted benefits for your rotator cuff injury.

Our goal isn’t just to help you recover, but also to help you see what your body is capable of when faced with a challenge.

We’re a direct access provider, meaning you don’t need a referral from a doctor to be treated by us. We’ll complete an evaluation to determine if a rotator cuff injury is the likely cause of your symptoms.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.