There is much more to rotator cuff surgery recovery than just the expertise of your surgeon. While it is true your physician and physical therapist must provide a good deal of science to the process you will have to provide a good understanding of how your body works and find a good deal of outside support as well. There will be normal daily activities that you will be unable to perform due to the surgery and you will need friends or loved ones to come along side you and help you out. When you bring all these elements together, you will have a winning team dedicated to your swift recovery.
Immediately After Surgery
There is a possibility that you will have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days. Open surgery requires the first few days of recovery to be monitored in the hospital for at least 24 hours. However if you have arthroscopic surgery you can go home immediately.
No matter which surgery you have you will be required to wear a protective sling. You will have a much faster rotator cuff surgery recovery time, as this will keep your arm and shoulder immobile and relaxed. This does not mean you should never move it however; you will have passive exercises to do guided by your physical therapist immediately after getting out of the hospital. These exercises keep the muscle from becoming atrophied or scarred.
During Recovery Exercises
You will go through four areas of recovery, passive motion, active motion, strength and full activity and there will be varying exercises depending on which phase you are currently in. A physical therapist will be on hand to discuss and instruct you on the proper exercises during each phase. Your exercises will fall into one of three groups, beginner, advanced and strength.
The first level exercises can be done with or without your physical therapist. Once you have been shown, the proper way to do the beginning exercises you will be able to do them at home unassisted. These exercises will generally be things like elbow flexion, forward rotation, grip exercises and extensions among others. Talk with your therapist about when you can transition from passive to active exercises. Moving too quickly into active motion will stress your shoulder and slow down your rotator cuff surgery recovery.
Second, advanced exercises are performed 6-8 weeks after the operation. You are now asked to let your shoulders perform its full range of motion with exercises that must be done 10-15 times daily. Your physical therapist will outline advanced exercises like internal rotation and cross-body adduction.
Third, strengthening exercises aim to restore strength to your otherwise weakened muscles. This way, you can indeed go back to your daily activities even in sports.
You will be required to lift weights although you must still remember not to overstress your shoulder muscles. As such, your physical therapist will plan out a personalized strength training protocol that will include internal and external rotations as well as pressing exercises.
At any phase of exercise, you should consult with your doctor if any of the following occurs, redness, oozing fluid, fever, unaccustomed warmth or pain. Any of these can be a sign that your rotator cuff surgery recovery is not moving along as quickly as it should.
Immediately After Surgery
There is a possibility that you will have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days. Open surgery requires the first few days of recovery to be monitored in the hospital for at least 24 hours. However if you have arthroscopic surgery you can go home immediately.
No matter which surgery you have you will be required to wear a protective sling. You will have a much faster rotator cuff surgery recovery time, as this will keep your arm and shoulder immobile and relaxed. This does not mean you should never move it however; you will have passive exercises to do guided by your physical therapist immediately after getting out of the hospital. These exercises keep the muscle from becoming atrophied or scarred.
During Recovery Exercises
You will go through four areas of recovery, passive motion, active motion, strength and full activity and there will be varying exercises depending on which phase you are currently in. A physical therapist will be on hand to discuss and instruct you on the proper exercises during each phase. Your exercises will fall into one of three groups, beginner, advanced and strength.
The first level exercises can be done with or without your physical therapist. Once you have been shown, the proper way to do the beginning exercises you will be able to do them at home unassisted. These exercises will generally be things like elbow flexion, forward rotation, grip exercises and extensions among others. Talk with your therapist about when you can transition from passive to active exercises. Moving too quickly into active motion will stress your shoulder and slow down your rotator cuff surgery recovery.
Second, advanced exercises are performed 6-8 weeks after the operation. You are now asked to let your shoulders perform its full range of motion with exercises that must be done 10-15 times daily. Your physical therapist will outline advanced exercises like internal rotation and cross-body adduction.
Third, strengthening exercises aim to restore strength to your otherwise weakened muscles. This way, you can indeed go back to your daily activities even in sports.
You will be required to lift weights although you must still remember not to overstress your shoulder muscles. As such, your physical therapist will plan out a personalized strength training protocol that will include internal and external rotations as well as pressing exercises.
At any phase of exercise, you should consult with your doctor if any of the following occurs, redness, oozing fluid, fever, unaccustomed warmth or pain. Any of these can be a sign that your rotator cuff surgery recovery is not moving along as quickly as it should.
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson spends his time caring for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can follow this link to learn more aboutrotator cuff surgery recovery.
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