Excel PT : Rotator Cuff Tears and Repairs

Excel PT : Rotator Cuff Tears and Repairs

EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY PHYSICIAN UPDATE

A Courtesy Publication for the Medical Community

ROTATOR CUFF TEARS AND REPAIRS

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EXC PHYS Rotator Cuff Tea A Courtesy Publication fo

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that offers a remarkable amount of motion unparalleled anywhere else in the body. Because of this high degree of mobility, this joint requires a lot of stability in order to keep it in its proper place. The rotator cuff is a series of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint with the purpose of providing stability as well as helping lift and rotate the arm.

By Philip Zhu, PT, DPT, University City Clinic

Degenerative Tears Rotator cuff tears are the leading cause of shoulder pain and shoulder-related disability (1). The two main causes of rotator cuff tears are injury and degeneration. The prevalence of degenerative tears increases with age and is more common among people who

ROTATOR CUFF MUSCLE

Supraspinatus Muscle Infraspinatus Muscle Subscapularis Muscle Teres Minor Muscle

Posterior View

Anterior View

perform repetitive shoulder movements. As we age, normal micro-tears in our rotator cuff tendons will occur. Think of them as gray hairs and wrinkles on the inside. One study found as many as 62% of patients over the age of 80 have abnormalities in their rotator cuff (1). Most small degenerative tears usually show no symptoms. In fact, they are shown to be about twice as common as symptomatic ones (2). When tears become larger over time, there may be dull shoulder pain with some associated range of motion and strength deficits. Complete tears will result in increased pain, more severe range of motion limitations, and significant difficulty in performing daily living activities, such as lifting the arm, picking up and grabbing objects. Signs to look out for: • Symptoms in the dominant arm • Pain (dull/deep) top of the shoulder or down outside of the arm • Increased pain at night and when lying on the affected shoulder • Shoulder/arm weakness and pain with lifting items

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CEL PHYSICAL THERAPY ICIAN UPDATE ars and Repairs or the Medical Community

Treating the Rotator Cuff Research has shown that conservative treatment for your patients, such as Physical Therapy, has been successful in treating degenerative rotator cuff tears with 75% of patients reporting symptom alleviation at their two-year follow up appointment (1). Don’t wait until the pain starts to affect your patient’s life – refer them to an Excel Physical Therapist for treatment now. During your patient’s first appointment at Excel Physical Therapy, our experienced Physical Therapists will review their medical history and perform a comprehensive physical examination. Depending on the findings, we will create an individualized program to help them regain shoulder function. Our program will consist of hands-on manual treatments to help resolve your patient’s pain and improve their range of motion. Once the pain is managed, corrective exercises will be prescribed to help build strength and optimize the mechanics of their shoulder, as well as nearby joints and muscles. Surgical treatment options may also be recommended for some tears depending on factors, such as severity, age, activity level, etc. If surgery is indicated, we also provide post-surgical rehabilitation for your patient and will work with you closely to create and follow a treatment plan that is appropriate for your patient. Prevention Aging is natural , pain is not! If your patients are currently experiencing mild symptoms or if they are at risk for rotator cuff tears, Excel Physical Therapy can help you help them get in front of the aging process to keep their shoulder functional and healthy. Refer your patient to Excel Physical Therapy today to get started. References: 1. Nolte, P. C., Seiter, M., Elrick, B. P., & Millett, P. J. (2021). Rotator cuff tears in elderly patients: is repair worthwhile? Annals of Joint, 6, 20. https://doi.org/10.21037/aoj-20-41. 2. Minagawa, H., Yamamoto, N., Abe, H., Fukuda, M., Seki, N., Kikuchi, K., Kijima, H., & Itoi, E. (2013). Prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic rotator cuff tears in the general population: From mass-screening in one village. Journal of Orthopaedics, 10(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2013.01.008. 3. Rotator Cuff. (n.d.). [Illustration]. https://cck-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/AdobeStock_372323169-scaled.jpeg

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Patient Success Spotlight

“After six weeks of therapy, I can say with confidence that we exceeded our goals.”

“I was diagnosed with shoulder arthritis and had pain and limited mobility. My primary care physician referred me to Excel Physical Therapy. I had my initial evaluation with Elizabeth Butkus, Physical Therapist. During our session we established baseline information and set improvement goals. After six weeks of therapy, I can say with confidence that we exceeded our goals. My shoulder range improved significantly and the pain subsided. I was pleased with all aspects of my physical therapy, and would highly recommend Elizabeth and Excel Physical Therapy!” - Tom R. (Kennett Square Patient)

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