Rotator cuff repairs sometimes require surgery. The shoulder is the most complex and mobile joint in the body, a shallow ball-and-socket joint that depends on the rotator cuff's muscles, tendons, and ligaments for stability and support.
The shoulder pain specialists at Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine partner with you through repair and recovery so that you have the guidance you need to return to sports after rotator cuff surgery. Progressive rehabilitation is an essential part of the surgical recovery process.
Athletes and construction workers frequently suffer from rotator cuff damage from overuse of the arm, repetitive strain on the joint, or acute trauma. Surgery could be necessary from the time of injury, or it could be the solution after conservative treatments fail to produce sufficient results.
The surgery itself could have one or more repair targets. Reattaching tendons, repairing torn tissue, and removing bone spurs are three common goals for rotator cuff surgery.
Our surgeons use arthroscopic techniques whenever possible to minimize damage to healthy tissue surrounding the shoulder. This holds many advantages over open surgery, though some injuries may require this approach.
Count on a period of recovery that's at least three months long and, depending on the severity of your injury, could be much longer. Many variables affect recovery from a rotator cuff repair.
Initially, after your procedure, it's common to wear a sling for four to six weeks to immobilize the affected arm through the early stages of healing. Because of this need for restricted motion, your shoulder and arm muscles will weaken, a process called atrophy.
Once your sling comes off, you'll require physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises, starting with passive routines with the aid of a physical therapist before moving to more active exercises, which you can perform on your own.
If your injury requires tendons to reattach, you'll need up to 12 weeks for tendons to develop some strength. At this point, we'll add gentle strength exercises to aid in rebuilding tendon tissue.
Under our supervision, you'll gradually increase the amount and intensity of physical therapy. It's important to follow our guidelines since we develop treatment and recovery plans based on the specifics of your injury and surgery.
Six months of recovery is about average for rotator cuff recovery to reach the return-to-play threshold, but each patient is unique. Successful return to your favorite sport requires restraint and patience to avoid reinjury of your shoulder, a setback that easily adds months to your recovery.
Visit us at Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine when you need rotator cuff repair. Call or book your consultation today at our nearest Jacksonville location.
