Rotator Cuff Repair

The rotator cuff consists of 4 muscles; the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis. These are small muscles that bear a lot of responsibility within our shoulder joints. Thus they are more prone to injury. Rotator cuff muscles can tear as a result of a traumatic injury, they can degenerate from long term smoking habits, or be the result of normal age related changes. The repair involves using either a large incision or shoulder arthroscopy to reattach the tendon to the bone via suture anchors. Following surgery there is a strict protocol to follow that allows the tendon to heal while also starting to improve your range of motion and strength. Some surgeons have their own protocols which we follow while others allow for a generic protocol. Physical therapy focuses on following the protocol with the ultimate goal of reducing pain and restoring strength and range of motion to levels prior to the tear. Physical therapy tends to produce excellent results after rotator cuff repair and the patient is able to achieve their prior levels of functionality. Please see below for photos of certain techniques we use to treat rotator cuff repairs in our clinic. If you would like to schedule an appointment please reach out to us.