Five tips to Speed recovery from rotator cuff surgery

 Your shoulder joint contains a set of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff, which help secure the top of the arm bone into the socket and facilitate broad shoulder movement. When these muscles or tendons tear or pull, your doctor may recommend rotator cuff surgery to repair the damage.

To ensure the best results and the fastest possible recovery, follow these key tips.

1. Wear your shoulder support or shoulder strap

After surgery, your doctor will give you a Magnetic shoulder support or strap to limit the movement of your arm. The length of time you wear a shoulder brace or strap depends on the extent of your rotator cuff injury and the type of surgery you have.

In many rotator cuff surgeries, you will need to wear shoulder support or straps at all times for 4-6 weeks. During this time, you can move your hands, wrists, and fingers, but full arm movement is limited.

2. Attend physical therapy

Physical therapy is an important part of your recovery process. The program includes exercises specifically designed to increase your shoulder strength, flexibility and range of motion as it heals.

In most cases, rotator cuff physical therapy begins with gentle passive exercises while your therapist supports and moves your arm. After your doctor approves, you can start active shoulder exercises on your own. These exercises can speed up your recovery and help you return to an active lifestyle more quickly.

Eliminate painkillers as soon as possible

It is normal to feel pain and discomfort after rotator cuff surgery or any surgery. While medication can increase your comfort while you heal, it can also mask your pain during physical therapy. This diminished feeling can easily make you overactive and inadvertently delay your recovery.

The sooner and more easily you can remove painkillers after surgery, the easier it will be to assess your recovery so that you can adjust your physical activity as needed.

4. Avoid certain shoulder positions and arm movements

During recovery, it is important to avoid actions that may interfere with healing. These actions usually include:

Lifting objects

Place the weight on your shoulders or arms

Get behind your body

Raise your arms above your head

Move your arm to the side

It's also important to avoid certain sleeping positions that put pressure on your shoulders, such as lying flat or flat.

5. Don't rush into recovery

No matter how you feel, it's important to listen to your doctor and follow their advice after rotator cuff surgery. Even if you feel little or no pain, activities that put stress on the shoulder significantly increase your risk of re-injury. Resuming physical activity before the shoulder heals also increases the chance of strain in other parts of the body, such as the elbow or spine.

More information.