There are two important parts to any rotator cuff surgery recovery. You need science, art, the medical professionals involved will provide the science, and you provide the art. Your physical therapist and surgeon have the science in their fingertips while you must have the art of knowing your body. There is of course also a support aspect to the entire process and that is the support of family or friends who will help you during recovery. It will take everyone working as a team to speed you to a healthy recovery.
Right after Surgery
The length of time you must stay in the hospital will depend on the type of surgery you have. For instance if you have an arthroscopic surgery you can be back home sometime the same day, however if you have open surgery you had better pack at least an overnight bag as you will be spending one to two days as an inpatient.
You will be required to wear a protective sling no matter which surgery you opt for. A sling keeps the arm and should more relaxed and will aid in a faster rotator cuff surgery recovery. Your physical therapist will however help you with passive exercises as soon as you are released from the hospital. These stretching and strengthening exercises will keep your muscles soft and pliable preventing atrophy or scarring.
Exercises during Recovery Period
There are four distinct phases of recovery, passive motion, active motion, strengthening and full activity. During each of these recovery phases, you will have specific exercises to do. Your physical therapist will provide you with the details for each area of recovery and the proper exercises you must do, they will generally fall into one of three categories, beginning, advanced and strengthening.
Beginning exercises can be accomplished both with and without the assistance of a physical therapist. Normally you will alternate between several exercises such as forward elevation, grip exercises, external rotation, and elbow flexion just to name a few. Discuss with your therapist about whether or not you are allowed to perform these exercises in an active and passive manner. If you do active exercise before you are ready, you will expose your shoulder to stress too soon and severely affect your rotator cuff surgery recovery.
Advanced exercises will be performed around 6-8 weeks after your surgery. These exercises will encourage you to use a full range of motion and should be repeated about 10-15 times daily. Your therapist will set these exercises up and instruct you thoroughly on the correct way to perform exercises such as internal rotation and cross body adductions.
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.
During the strength training phase you will be required to life weights however you should remember not to stress the should muscles. In fact, your physical therapist should plan out a personal training program that includes internal and external rotations in addition to pressing exercises.
In any of these exercises, you must immediately consult with your doctor when your wound starts to exhibit signs of redness, uncommon warmth and oozing fluid or when you develop a fever or when your pain becomes intolerable. Any of these factors will affect how fast and how well you tread the path of rotator cuff surgery recovery.
Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Please click here to learn more aboutrotator cuff surgery recovery.