12-16 Weeks – Proper strengthening can now begin, with the focus shifting heavily to making the muscles and tendons stronger as they continue to heal. 16-20 Weeks – Full recovery begins.
Table of Contents
Can I do my own physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery?
Research suggests most patients can safely begin physical therapy early after surgery. This minimizes stiffness of the shoulder and loss of muscle in the rotator cuff. However, patients with larger tears may benefit from delaying physical therapy for 4 to 6 weeks to protect the healing repair.
What are the first PT exercises after rotator cuff surgery?
How many times a week should you do physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery?
Physical therapy: Formal PT will begin any time from the day after your surgery to six weeks after surgery depending on your surgeon’s preference. Frequent PT visits (three times per week) often are recommended to limit shoulder stiffness.
When should I start passive range of motion after rotator cuff surgery?
Passive range of motion is to begin 6 weeks after surgery. Passive range of motion requires the therapist or an assistant at home to put the arm through a comfortable range of motion while the patient is supine. Motions include forward elevation, external rotation, and abduction-all within a comfortable range.
How painful is PT after rotator cuff surgery?
Pain During Physical Therapy Sometimes, you may feel pain during your therapy sessions. As a precaution, your therapist will adjust your movements to avoid elevating your shoulder over 60 degrees or overexerting your shoulder as it heals. Rarely does physical therapy cause damage to the repaired muscles.
When should I start shoulder rehab?
For a shoulder sprain, physical therapy should begin after a rest period of two to three weeks. For rotator cuff tendinitis or even a small tear, the period of rest is about two to four weeks, but severe cases can take a few months.
When can I sleep on my shoulder after rotator cuff surgery?
Patients with single shoulder surgery have to sleep at an incline for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. The best position for most people with shoulder surgery is the reclined position because it reduces tension in the shoulder joint and the surrounding soft tissue.
Is walking good after rotator cuff surgery?
When can I exercise after shoulder surgery? You can do things like walk immediately. Usually, you will be in a sling for a period of 2 to 6 weeks depending on the type of surgery. During that time you can remove the sling to extend the elbow several times a day.
Do and don’ts after rotator cuff surgery?
- Do not put weight through your arm or lift anything for six weeks.
- Do not try to reach above or behind you.
- Do not lie on the operated side for a minimum of six weeks.
- Do not get your bandage wet.
- Do not take anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen for the first twelve weeks.
- Do not soldier on.
Can I take my sling off to sleep?
So, it’s okay to take it off when you are sitting at home with the arm at your side. You can take the arm out of the sling and place it on a pillow, mimicking the position that it would be in with the sling. When you are up moving around, when you are sleeping, and especially when driving the sling MUST be on.
Is massage good after rotator cuff surgery?
Massage therapy is a great option for rotator cuff injuries because it helps to decrease inflammation and pain in the area, release scar tissue, loosen tight and tense muscles and increase range of motion in the shoulder girdle.
What is the fastest way to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
- Wear a sling. To speed recovery, it is important to keep your shoulder immobilized initially after surgery so your tendon can heal.
- Sleep carefully.
- Ask for help.
- Watch for complications.
- Do the physical therapy.
- Keep comfortable.
- Be mindful of your movement.
- Pace yourself.
How long do you have to wear a sling after rotator cuff surgery?
Patients are often advised to wear a sling or brace for the first 4–6 weeks after rotator cuff repair surgery to prevent them from performing any physical activities involving the affected shoulder (3).
What are the best exercises after rotator cuff surgery?
- Assisted Shoulder Elevation. This exercise can be performed sitting or lying down.
- Rotator Cuff Strength. In a standing position, place your arms a little behind your back and clasp your hands together.
- Reaching Exercises.
- Internal Rotation.
- Shoulder Adduction.
What can you do 4 weeks after rotator cuff surgery?
Recovery Phase 1: Surgery – 4 weeks after surgery This phase involves an independent home exercise program unless preoperatively you had a frozen shoulder then formal physical therapy (with a therapist) will be initiated. The following are exercises you should perform on your own.
What is the best pain medication for rotator cuff surgery?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen, are used to ease discomfort by reducing the inflammation around the torn tendon.
When will my rotator cuff stop hurting?
Rotator cuff treatment The minimum time for recovery from rotator cuff tendonitis or a small tear is generally two to four weeks, and stubborn cases can take several months. Early on, the aim is to reduce swelling and inflammation of the tendons and relieve compression in the subacromial space.
How easy is it to Retear a rotator cuff?
Compared with small- and middle-sized rotator cuff tears (RCTs), the retear rate is relatively high in large and massive tears, even if the tear is completely covered during surgery [1–4]; some authors reported that the retear rate was 40–94% in these tears [3–6].
Can you sleep on your side after rotator cuff surgery?
If you will be sleeping in your bed after your shoulder surgery, it’s important to ensure that you don’t roll over onto your healing shoulder and damage it further. If you sleep on your side, sleep on your uninjured arm and stack pillows behind you to keep you from rolling in the night.
Why does my bicep hurt after rotator cuff surgery?
When the rotator cuff is torn, the humeral head is free to move too far up and forward in the shoulder socket and can impact the biceps tendon. The damage may begin to weaken the biceps tendon and cause it to become inflamed.
How long should I ice my shoulder after rotator cuff surgery?
At minimum, ice your shoulder for at least 8hrs/day. If you can’t use the iceman, we recommend you use ice in a small plastic bag. You should ice your shoulder for 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours as needed.
How soon can you wear a bra after rotator cuff surgery?
Clothing for Hospital Should Include Loose Fitting Upper Apparel. A loose fitting sleeveless undershirt followed by a loose button down shirt. Please do not wear a traditional bra for two weeks, but one with a T-back or racer back straps are okay.
What are the symptoms of a failed rotator cuff surgery?
Patients with rotator cuff failure can present with shoulder pain and/or significant weakness or stiffness. The post-operative shoulder pain can be at a new anatomic location or in a similar location to the pre-operative pain.
How soon after shoulder surgery can I drive?
After surgery, one of the most popular questions patients ask the shoulder surgeon is, “When can I drive again?” In general, you should avoid driving for at least six to twelve weeks or until your doctor says you don’t need to wear the sling any more.