How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
Not All Rotator Cuff Tears Are The Same. 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.
What is the average recovery time for rotator cuff surgery?
Dec 21, 2021 · Usually, this phase of rehab lasts for three to four weeks. 5 Initial Strengthening In the next portion of rehab, your therapist will begin instructing you on exercises that start to gently strengthen your rotator cuff muscles. By this point, the surgical repair is more secure and can tolerate light resistance.
When can you return to work after rotator cuff surgery?
Feb 05, 2018 · Throughout this process, healing of the rotator cuff repair should be respected. The healing process is divided into three stages: inflammation (0–7 days), repair (5–14 days), and remodeling (> 14 days) [10]. One primate study showed an almost mature tendon-to-bone healing by 15 weeks after surgery.
How long will I be out after rotator cuff surgery?
Rotator Cuff Repair Post-operative Rehabilitation Protocol. Phase I: Days 1 to 28 Days 1 to 6 . Brace • Abduction brace/sling, remove sling only to bathe and to complete exercises. Shoulder Motion. Passive Range of Motion: • Pendulum exercises Active Range of Motion: • Cervical, elbow, fingers and hand. Strengthening. Isometrics: • Scapular strengthening
What happens at 3 weeks after rotator cuff surgery?
3 weeks to 6 weeks- Post-acute recovery Therapy should not be “painful”, but you will have some discomfort with getting the shoulder out of the sling and having it moved around more. You are still not allowed to actively lift your arm at this point.Apr 19, 2017
How soon after surgery should you start physical therapy?
Most doctors are now recommending that physical therapy start immediately after surgery. You'll begin with simple exercises involving flexing and stretching and move on to more intense exercise as you recover.
How long after rotator cuff surgery do you start therapy?
You should start formal physical therapy with a therapist seven to ten days after your surgery. Typically we recommend that you see a therapist twice a week, but sometimes it is less and sometimes it is more depending upon your particular surgery.
When do you go to physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery?
Research suggests most patients can safely begin physical therapy early after surgery. This minimizes stiffness of the shoulder and loss of muscle in the rotator cuff. However, patients with larger tears may benefit from delaying physical therapy for 4 to 6 weeks to protect the healing repair.Aug 25, 2019
What happens if you don't do physical therapy after wrist surgery?
Following surgery, bones, muscles and soft tissues undergo a period of healing. Failure to use the joint may cause it to heal improperly. This can limit range of motion, flexibility, function of the joint and overall surgical outcome. This makes it essential to complete physical therapy after surgery.Feb 25, 2019
What happens if you don't do physical therapy after surgery?
Decreased blood flow to the area can negatively affect healing at the surgical site. Muscles can weaken and atrophy if they go too long without use. Not learning or relearning proper movement can put stress on the knees.Nov 2, 2019
What is the fastest way to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
5 Tips to Speed Your Recovery from Rotator Cuff SurgeryWear your shoulder immobilizer or sling. ... Participate in physical therapy. ... Eliminate pain medication as quickly as possible. ... Avoid certain shoulder positions and arm movements. ... Don't rush your recovery.
Why is PT so painful after rotator cuff surgery?
Usually, the soreness is due to your shoulder recovering from the surgery itself or stiffness from the lack of movement. While your shoulder is healing, getting your range of motion back with stretching and strengthening exercises is equally as important as rest.Dec 3, 2020
Will my shoulder ever be the same after rotator cuff surgery?
Most patients who have had rotator cuff surgery will tell you that it takes about nine months before the shoulder feels completely normal.
When should I start passive range of motion after rotator cuff surgery?
Passive range of motion is to begin 6 weeks after surgery. Passive range of motion requires the therapist or an assistant at home to put the arm through a comfortable range of motion while the patient is supine. Motions include forward elevation, external rotation, and abduction-all within a comfortable range.
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.
Where do Phil and Pat live?
Pat and Phil both live in Buffalo NY , are 62 years old, and talk everyday on the phone. They both love to do woodworking , a hobby that is especially common here in Upstate NY, Pennsylvania, and Canada . Recently both twins developed shoulder pain: Pat on the left and Phil on the right (they are mirror image twins).
Can you stress the healing tissue?
In other words: you can’t stress the healing tissue much until it has knitted together. —————————-. If you need rotator cuff surgery, the duration and speed at which you progress will depend in large part on whether your surgeon repaired your rotator cuff with stitches or not.
Did Phil have an accident?
He couldn’t remember any injury per se, just that his shoulder had been hurting for the last few weeks and it was disrupting his sleep. Phil, on the other hand had an accident . He slipped in his workshop one day and fell directly onto his right shoulder. He thought his pain would go away on it’s own too.
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 .
What Is Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery?
Not every rotator cuff tear needs to be repaired. In fact, one study reported that up to 46% of the general population may have a rotator cuff tear on imaging, despite not complaining of any pain or weakness. 2
4 Stages of Post-Operative Physical Therapy
Following a rotator cuff repair, the affected arm is usually placed in a sling by your care team. You will be told not to actively move your arm for multiple weeks.
Summary
Rotator cuff repair surgery involves fixing torn or damaged tendons in the shoulder. This surgery typically requires four stages of physical therapy as you recover. In the first two to eight weeks after surgery, you'll limit movement, wear a sling, and work with a PT on passive stretching. In the second stage, you'll work on active stretching.
A Word From Verywell
Recovering from a rotator cuff repair requires both persistence and patience. While most people eventually see improvements in their pain, range of motion, and function, these benefits can take time. 4
How long does it take for a shoulder to heal after a shoulder injury?
Even though time frames are not used for progression, it is important not to place excessive stress on the shoulder for up to 12 weeks to allow for proper tendon-to-bone healing. As exercises are progressed, scapular muscle activation is initiated, followed by isometric and lastly isotonic rotator cuff exercises.
How long does it take to get immobilized after shoulder surgery?
Immediately after surgery, patients are placed in an immobilizer, typically between 4 and 6 weeks. Pain and inflammation have been reported to inhibit shoulder musculature which is why the post-surgical team should make every effort to use cryotherapy and other modalities as necessary [9].
What are the muscles that surround the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is composed of a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder. These include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor which function to assist in glenohumeral (GH) elevation and rotation.
What is the function of the subscapularis?
The subscapularis works to internally rotate the shoulder and provide compression as well as anterior stability. When functioning properly, the rotator cuff complex allows for GH movement with stability; however, if the rotator cuff becomes damaged or torn through injury or disease, dysfunction may occur.
Do overhead athletes need to return to throwing?
These exercises should be reserved for end-stage rehab for athletes and may not be ideal for those who do not need to return to a throwing sport.