Good Morning Athletes and Warriors.According to PubMed.Gov rotator cuff injuries ailments and surgeries linked to them are on the rise. As more people in general, not just varsity or pro athletes become more active and involve themselves in different sports activities. The movements required, if not trained for and executed properly, could present a risk in injury or ailment. There are a number of rehab and more importantly preventative measures every active person can take to help reduce and eliminate the opportunity for rotator cuff injuries to occur. Read on and learn more.
-Nate
Basics of Rotator Cuff Injuries
by Dr. Richard Edelson
Physicians see more rotator cuff injuries than almost any other musculoskeletal injury. A patient with a rotator cuff injury will experience pain and weakness in the shoulder, but not swelling. Sometimes the patient does not have symptoms. Usually, though, the patient will have increased weakness and pain when active. This is especially true when raising the arm higher than shoulder level. Fortunately, there are quite a few treatments available for rotator cuff injury. The type of treatment that is suitable would depend upon the patient's age and the type of injury experienced.
Rotator cuff injuries occur in two ways. You could either have rotator cuff tendonitis or a rotator cuff tear. It is important to realize that there are a few other conditions that can cause the type of pain one experiences with a rotator cuff injury. For an accurate diagnosis, you will need to see your physician. The first step your physician will take is a physical examination. Following the examination, your doctor may inject your injured shoulder with a local anesthetic. This process will help your doctor in determining exactly what kind of injury you have. If your doctor decides that you have a rotator cuff tear, he or she may send you for some imaging tests. Imaging tests will help pinpoint the location of the injury and confirm whether or not the injury is a tear.
Rotator cuff tendonitis is more common than rotator cuff tear, but the treatment is similar for both. Rest, ice, compression and elevation, also known as RICE therapy, is prescribed for both conditions. Your doctor may also tell you to take an over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. You may also be referred to a physical therapist who will help you to understand how to modify your activities to avoid pain and may also give you instructions on exercises to help strengthen your shoulder. If these measures don't help, your doctor may give you a shot of a steroid/anesthetic mix. This injection will be made directly into the joint to help address your pain.
This sort of non-surgical intervention usually has a 50-50 chance of being effective. If it is to work, you will probably see results in 6 - 12 weeks. Using non-invasive techniques of this sort can be good in a number of ways. When you do not have surgery, you also do not have recovery time. Furthermore, you do not experience any of the risks commonly associated with surgery such as complications caused by anesthesia, permanent stiffening of the joint, or infection. One thing to realize, however, is that this approach can cause the original tear to increase in size. Additionally, even though there is not a set recovery time, you will be operating at less than your usual ability until you have completely recovered. Aside from these considerations is the fact that non-invasive techniques may not be effective. You may end up having surgery after all. If your injury is quite severe, your doctor may bypass the non-invasive option and recommend surgery right from the start.
Click here for more on rotator cuff tears.
When rotator cuff injury is treated with surgery, there are generally three options.
The method that allows the surgeon to operate most freely is called open repair surgery. This method utilizes a full incision in the shoulder. This option can leave a rather large scar.
Another method that utilizes both an incision and arthroscopy is called mini-open repair surgery. This is an outpatient procedure in which the surgeon makes a smaller incision and uses an arthroscope to see the interior of the shoulder structure. This procedure leaves a much smaller scar.
The third method is known as all arthroscopic surgery. This is the simplest option in that it is an outpatient procedure, and it also leaves the smallest scar.
The doctor will determine which procedure will work best based on the specific injury.
The majority of patients who have rotator cuff surgery experience a decrease in pain and an increase in ROM (range of motion) within four to six months following surgery. In fact, eighty to ninety-five percent of people who have this surgery report satisfaction with the results.
The expertise of the surgeon is a very important factor in the successful outcome of the surgery. However, there are some variables to keep in mind when considering speed and success of recovery. Among them are the type of tear, tissue quality, the patients age, and the amount the patient complies with the doctors instructions.
Some patients experience complications from surgery; however, these are rare. One to two percent may experience nerve injury. Approximately one percent may contract infection. Less than one percent may have detachment of the deltoid muscle. Less than one percent may experience stiffness. Tendon re-tear is experienced by approximately six percent of patients.
More Information:
Dr. Edelson is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinic, Sports Medicine Oregon, focuses on athletes of all ages. Get your rotator cuff injury rehab and prevention program here
Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article175440.html
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