Saturday, 18 August 2012

Starting Therapy Fast for Rotator Cuff Tears Makes a Difference

By Ellie Lois


Rotator cuff tears can be quite painful or just a plain nuisance. Most people do not even know they have one. During autopsies, it was shown that seventy percent of people over the age of 80 had one. And at least 30 percent of those under 70. The older a person becomes the more worn out things become. A person could push, pull, or stretch up too high for example. It can be disabling if not treated at all.

But rotator tears are not just from old age! You can get them at any age.

Falling or any kind of accident can cause rotator cuff tears. There are tough football players out there who put up with the risk of having these injuries because of the demand of the sport. Even with such a simple game of golf can be hazardous to the rotator cuff, too. You do not have to tumble down from a higher place to get a rotator cuff injury. I even had my injury when one simply pulled me by the arm.

If you happen to experience a burning sensation somewhere on your shoulder when lying down or perhaps, if you have difficulty putting your arm up on your head or a slight discomfort at a particular spot on the shoulder, chances are, you might have a rotator cuff tear. This is exactly true, when the pain extends from the shoulder down to the elbow. Take notice of these symptoms. The pain I felt the last time was spreading to the other side of my body and putting on a shirt was difficult. It was not that disturbing though, but I know if I had ignored the signs, it would have grown to be more serious.

The best remedy for a tear is to start physical therapy right away. I have found that I can now do the exercises myself without going to a therapist. There is plenty of information available on different therapies that can be used.

The best advice I can give is to seek medical help. Various clinical tests like MRI, Arthrogram or diagnostic arthroscopy can help detect a rotator cuff injury. In the course of the physical exam, the doctor usually checks the shoulder by moving it. The doctor also checks on the range of motion to find out the extent of the injury whether it is pinched, just a minor tear or a complete tear.

A rotator cuff injury ignored and left untreated can result to serious problems. The earlier the person can treat a rotator cuff tear, the better it is. When left untreated, the doctor may resort to surgery, which is another major dilemma to tackle.




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