how long is rotator cuff surgery rehab

How long does it take for Phil to get a rotator cuff surgery?

Both brothers had surgery on their respective rotator cuffs. But the surgeon told Phil that he would need 4-6 months of physical therapy and told Pat that he would need only 2-3 months.

Why did Fred have to wait to do active motion on his shoulder?

He would also need to “ protect the repair .” In other words, Fred would have to wait to do “active” motion on his healing left shoulder to make sure that the tendon didn’t detach again before it had a chance to heal. He wouldn’t be able to do strengthening exercises for 3 months.

Do you need physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery?

The truth is, most people need at least some physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery. But for some, it’s much shorter than they might expect. The length of time you do therapy often depends on one key factor.

Did Pat and Pat have rotator cuff tears?

What I neglected to tell you was that, while it’s true that they both brothers had “rotator cuff tears” their tears were not the same. Pat’s tear was not as bad. When the surgeon did Pat’s arthroscopic surgery, he found that the rotator cuff was “ frayed ” but not completely torn off of the bone. He had a partial tear .

How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?

What is the Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery Timeline? 1 Phase 1:Passive motion: 1-6 weeks depending upon the size of tear and strength of the repair. 2 Phase 2: Active Motion: 6-12 weeks. You start moving your shoulder with the contraction of your muscles. 3 Phase 3: Strengthening: 12-16 weeks. Injury, surgery, early phases of restricted motion result in weakness that now must be restored. 4 Phase 4 Full activity: 16-24 weeks. Strengthening with continued improvement in range of motion and return to play.

How long does it take to heal a rotator cuff?

The Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery Timeline varies significantly and can take 6 months or more. A shoulder immobilizer may be required for 4-6 weeks for maximal healing. There are four common phases. Phase 1:Passive motion: 1-6 weeks depending upon the size of tear and strength of the repair. Phase 2: Active Motion: 6-12 weeks.

What is the rotator cuff?

To Conclude…. The rotator cuff is a complex of muscles and tendons that provide stability and function to the shoulder. Injuries can occur and surgery for rotator cuff tears has increased. Recovery from rotator cuff surgery is commonly divided into 4 phases.

What are the four muscles that compromise the rotator cuff?

The four muscles that compromise the rotator cuff are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor. The rotator cuff is also important in shoulder functions such as reaching overhead, ...

How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?

For many rotator cuff patients, six months is a key staging post on the road to a full recovery. By now your shoulder should be feeling stronger, and routine tasks will be returning. You will start to do lifting and pushing work again, from raising yourself out of chairs to gentle gardening or even manual labour.

How long does it take to heal a rotator cuff?

24 hours . Rotator cuff repairs are usually performed with you asleep and you should be able to go home within a day. You may be given a nerve block to numb the area during the operation. The effects last a few hours, so as those wear off you’ll take further pain killers to make you more comfortable.

How long does it take to heal a shoulder?

8-12 weeks. After passive and active motion, the third phase of rehab is strengthening. This usually starts from around eight weeks. You’ll begin work on the exercises that your physiotherapy gave you earlier on the timeline. The aim here is to rebuild the shoulder muscles that have deteriorated after long inactivity.

What happens when you tear your rotator cuff?

A rotator cuff injury is what happens when one or more of the four key muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint suffers a sprain or tear. While many heal naturally over time, some need surgery. This often involves re-stitching torn tissue to the bone – and that will make the area very sore and delicate afterwards.

How long does it take to recover from a syringe infection?

2 weeks. By two weeks, the most uncomfortable stage of recovery should be over. Most patients are able to reduce their pain relief at this point. This is also the stage where you will return to hospital to have your dressing and stitches removed.

When can you sleep on both sides of your shoulder?

Somewhere around the month to six-week mark, you’ll be able to lose the sling and begin to sleep on both sides again. We’ll phase in some limited ‘active motion’ of the shoulder, too. Active motion means you can begin to move the shoulder, but not against resistance.

How long does it take to heal a rotator cuff?

Here is a general overview of the rehabilitation timeline you can expect following surgical rotator cuff repair: – The day of the procedure – Rotator cuff surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically takes a few hours.

How long does it take to recover from shoulder surgery?

For most patients, this phase of recovery begins about 4-6 weeks after surgery. You will start by performing passive motion, which involves your therapist moving your shoulder in a way that does not place tension on it. Then, you will move on to active motion, or moving your arm on your own without resistance.

How to control shoulder pain after shoulder surgery?

You should take this medication as directed to manage the shoulder pain and discomfort you are likely to feel in the days after surgery. Icing your shoulder and sleeping in a semi-upright position with your elbow pointed downward are two other important steps for pain control.

Can you have rotator cuff surgery right away?

For more severe tears, surgery may be considered right away. When deciding whether to undergo surgery, patients should discuss details of the procedure with their orthopedic surgeon. Among other questions, they should ask, “How long is recovery after rotator cuff surgery?”.

How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?

Even in the best-case scenario with top-of-the-line techniques, recovery still takes time. Here's a breakdown of the timeline for rotator cuff surgery recovery. Week 2: Bandages can be removed 2 weeks after an arthroscopic procedure. You will need to attend physical therapy rehab during this time (and for at least 4 weeks) to regain your strength.

How long does it take to recover from a surgical repair?

Recover Better, Faster, Stronger. Full recovery may take up to 6 months to feel like yourself again after a surgical repair. What may help speed up recovery and more importantly a rapid return to full strength is targeted amino acid supplementation.

Why do rotator cuff tears occur?

Rotator cuff tears are rather common, sometimes seen in sports medicine due to injury (tennis, anyone?), and sometimes the result of the natural wear and tear of aging or repeated use.

What is the function of the rotator cuff?

The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder joint, allowing for shoulder movement and granting the arm enough strength and power to pitch a ball, swing a sledgehammer, or playfully toss a child over your head. There are four muscles and their respective tendons (which connect muscle to bone, whereas ligaments connect bone to bone) ...

Why is it important to identify the symptoms of a rotator cuff injury?

Regardless of what causes your rotator cuff injury, it's important to identify the symptoms as soon as possible to prevent possible irreversible damage. These include: It's easier to identify an acute tear than an injury due to overuse, as those symptoms have a slow onset and can easily be attributed to general aches.

What happens when you tear your rotator cuff?

When the rotator cuff tendon is torn, the arm it's attached to loses a large amount of function, halting your normal activities in their tracks—movements as common as turning the steering wheel of your car or fishing your keys out of your pocket. Rotator tears vary in severity.

Where is the rotator cuff located?

The rotator cuff itself is the link between the humerus bone (upper arm) and your shoulder blade. Also present in the joint are lubricating sacs called bursae that help to cushion and lubricate this joint and many others throughout the body. ...

What are the benefits of rotator cuff surgery?

The main benefit of rotator cuff surgery is that it can eliminate the symptoms someone is experiencing when nonsurgical treatment options have not been successful: mainly shoulder pain, shoulder weakness, or both. In the case of larger tears, surgical intervention may be the better option.

How long does it take to recover from shoulder surgery?

Phase three: 12 weeks onward. Twelve weeks after surgery, most people can increase activities that will help them regain strength in their shoulder and allow them to utilize their full range of motion. It is always best to follow all advice from the surgeon and physiotherapist to ensure the best possible outcome.

What is the rotator cuff?

SDI Productions/Getty Images. The rotator cuff is a term for a group of four tendons in the shoulder. They connect the muscles of the shoulder blade to the top of the arm bone. As well as helping to keep the shoulder in its socket, the rotator cuff also allows the shoulder joint to have a wide range of movement.

What is the procedure to repair a tendon tear?

Open surgery. Open tendon repair requires a larger incision and some surgeons may recommend this operation for larger, more severe tears. During open surgery, the surgeon may also need to detach a part of the deltoid muscle on the front of the shoulder to be able to see more clearly.

Can you stay in the hospital after a rotator cuff surgery?

Most rotator cuff surgery is currently done arthroscopically, and most people do not need to stay in the hospital overnight after this type of operation.

Is rotator cuff surgery better than conservative surgery?

However, there are some limitations to rotator cuff surgery. There is some evidence to suggest that surgery may not be more effective than conservative treatment, and therefore nonsurgical treatment is often initially recommended.

Can rotator cuff surgery be done?

Some rotator cuff injuries may require surgery when nonsurgical treatments have not worked, but evidence suggests that nonsurgical treatments can help with most cases. The rotator cuff is the part of the body that helps keep the top of the arm bone in the shoulder socket. Sometimes it can tear, resulting in pain and weakness.