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Rotator cuff injury treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Rotator cuff injuries usually come from wear over time, a jump in overhead work or sports, or a fall on the arm. The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles that hold the ball of the shoulder in place. Many strains and even some tears get better with the right strength plan, and when surgery is needed, physical therapy before and after makes a big difference in recovery.
On this page
What usually causes rotator cuff injuries
The rotator cuff keeps the shoulder steady every time you reach, lift or throw. That constant work is why it gets irritated or injured so often.
- Tendon irritation
- Also called rotator cuff tendinopathy. An ache on the outside of the upper arm that flares with reaching up, reaching behind you or sleeping on that side.
- Wear and tear tears
- Tears that develop slowly over years, very common after 40. Many people with them do well without surgery.
- Sudden tears from an injury
- A fall on an outstretched arm or a heavy lift can tear the cuff and cause sudden pain and weakness lifting the arm.
- Overhead and throwing sports
- Pitching, swimming, tennis and volleyball put a lot of repeated stress on the cuff, especially when strength and rest do not keep up.
- Weak shoulder blade muscles
- When the muscles that control the shoulder blade are not doing their share, the rotator cuff gets overloaded.
When to get it checked
Get your shoulder looked at if pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, wakes you at night, or makes it hard to lift your arm or reach behind your back. See a doctor soon if you cannot lift your arm after a fall or sudden injury, since some acute tears do best with an early surgical opinion. Go to the emergency room right away if your shoulder looks out of place, your arm is numb or cold, or shoulder pain comes with chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Keep the shoulder moving
- Gentle, pain free motion like pendulum swings and sliding your hand up a wall keeps the shoulder from stiffening.
- Take a break from heavy overhead work
- Cut back on lifting overhead and reaching behind you for now, then build back up slowly as it settles.
- Support the arm at night
- Sleep on your back or the other side, with a pillow under or in front of the sore arm.
How we treat rotator cuff injuries at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We test the strength and motion of your shoulder, shoulder blade and neck, work with your surgeon if you have one, and build a plan that fits where you are in recovery.
01
Relieve
Hands on care, dry needling or shockwave when they fit, and gentle motion that calms the shoulder and protects healing tissue after surgery.
02
Rebuild
Step by step strength for the rotator cuff and shoulder blade, from light bands up to real lifting, so the shoulder is steady again.
03
Perform
Back to throwing, swimming, lifting and reaching the top shelf, with a return to sport plan for athletes. When you are ready, our personal trainers and athletic performance coaches take it from there.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
How dry needling and shockwave therapy can help
For rotator cuff injuries, your physical therapist may use dry needling and shockwave therapy to speed things up. They will tell you on your first visit if it is a good fit.
Dry needling
A very thin needle placed into a tight, guarded muscle helps it let go, so pain calms down and you can move and strengthen again. Always paired with hands on care and strength work.
Learn about dry needlingShockwave therapy
Sound waves delivered to a stubborn tendon or tissue help restart healing when it has stalled for months. Always paired with the strength work that keeps it from coming back.
Learn about shockwave therapyCommon exercises for rotator cuff injuries
These are a few of the exercises our team often uses for rotator cuff injuries. Tap one to watch.
Please read first. These are not right for everyone. If a move brings on sharp pain, numbness or tingling, stop and talk to one of our physical therapists before you keep going.
Learn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about rotator cuff injuries all the time.
Read more from our team
Blog posts and newsletter tips from our clinicians that go with rotator cuff injuries.
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Talk to a physical therapist
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Common questions about rotator cuff injuries
Can a rotator cuff tear heal without surgery?
Many small tears or tears from wear and tear do well without surgery. The torn tendon may not grow back together, but a strong shoulder around it can work very well. If surgery makes more sense for you, we will tell you.
How do I know if my rotator cuff is torn?
Pain on the outside of the arm, weakness lifting the arm, and pain at night are common signs. A physical therapist can test the shoulder. An MRI is only needed if the result would change your treatment.
How long does rotator cuff surgery recovery take?
Full recovery after a repair often takes several months, since the tendon needs time to heal to the bone. Starting physical therapy early and following the plan helps you get the most out of the surgery.
Do I need a referral for rotator cuff injuries?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
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2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.