You’re working with a athlete who’s recently had rotator cuff surgery had a tota
ID: 3509035 • Letter: Y
Question
You’re working with a athlete who’s recently had rotator cuff surgery had a total of 12 PT sessions. Your referral pad suggests gradual strengthening and stretching over 3 months. By then the athlete wants to be on a basic strength routine to get back to their pre-season training program. List the ROM exercises, modified strength exercise and routine you’d use for this athlete. You’re working with a athlete who’s recently had rotator cuff surgery had a total of 12 PT sessions. Your referral pad suggests gradual strengthening and stretching over 3 months. By then the athlete wants to be on a basic strength routine to get back to their pre-season training program. List the ROM exercises, modified strength exercise and routine you’d use for this athlete.Explanation / Answer
These Exercises should not cause more than a mild level of pain. If patient experiences pain, decrease the intensity of the stretch or the number of repetitions and consult the physician or physiotherapist.
The pendulum stretching exercise aids to stretch the space in which the tendons pass, and also helps to prevent the development of frozen shoulder. This exercise can be started a few weeks after shoulder surgery. The exercise performed are enlisted here:
Wand exercises – 5-10 repetitions
Posterior capsule stretching — aids in treatment of Tightness in the ligaments/capsule of the shoulder that can develop in people with rotator cuff injuries. Must be done throughout the day.
Sleeper stretch - Repeat 15 to 20 times
Muscle strengthening exercises — Muscle strengthening exercises are essential to improve shoulder muscle strength and assist to prevent further injury. Patient can begin strengthening the shoulder once the shoulder has full range of motion, including overhead activities, with minimal pain.
Abduction exercise - Repeat 10 to 15 times. Shrugging the shoulders while performing this movement should be avoided.
Scapular strengthening: 10-15 times regularly
Maintenance exercises: Once rehabilitation is complete, it is essential to keep the shoulder muscles strong to uphold fitness and prevent a recurrence of pain,
Anyone who performs regular overhead activities needs to maintain strong shoulder blades and rotator cuff muscles to prevent overuse injuries of these areas. These muscles are crucial in preventing aggravation to the tendons.
Return to activities — after surgical procedure, most people need 6 months of rehabilitation before strength and shoulder function return to normal. Post-surgical rehabilitation is required and use of the shoulder must be restricted. Immediately after surgery, patient will be allowed to use the affected arm with your elbow at your side for eating, using the keyboard, using the telephone, and driving. Above-the-shoulder activities are not typically allowed for three months after the surgery.
Sports activities can be slowly restarted, including golfing and light weight lifting at four months, swimming at five months, and throwing and tennis at five to six months.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.