Exercises for the rotator cuff after surgery
After an operation it is always important to follow the instructions of the surgeon. It is often the case that the movement in the joint has not yet been completely released. In most cases, the shoulder must not be raised and spread more than 90° immediately after surgery.
Rotational movements are also frequently prohibited. Resistance, including support, is usually contraindicated for 6 weeks. In the first few weeks after an operation on the rotator cuff, passive and active mobilization is the main focus.
This means: movement within the pain-free and permitted range, without resorting to evasive mechanisms such as raising the shoulder. This should be practiced during therapy and can then best be carried out independently at home in front of a mirror. The problem is, of course, that the rotator cuff heals better due to the lack of load (such as support or rotation), but also loses its strength.
After shoulder surgery, the stabilizing musculature must be trained slowly and urgently. The above-mentioned exercises, which should be adapted to the level of wound healing, are suitable for this purpose. It is important that resistance and support activity are only slowly increased with the permission of the doctor.At this time, these are given a high priority in the therapy. In order to protect the operated structures, care should also be taken in everyday life to avoid the forbidden directions of movement and loads (do not lift heavily, do not push open doors with the affected arm, do not grab objects from the top shelf). After the healing process has progressed, there is a progressive build-up training.
Exercises for a shoulder impingement
In impingement, i.e. the so-called shoulder stenosis, the attachment tendons of the rotator cuff are often heavily loaded and tend to become inflamed and worn. Due to muscular imbalance, poor posture or other causes, the head of the shoulder has slipped up under the acromion in the socket. The structures running there are compressed.
The rotator cuff then frequently shows signs of wear. To re-expand the so-called subacromial space (the space between the acromion and the shoulder head), there are some good exercises in physiotherapeutic treatment. In particular, the caudalizing (downward pulling) muscles should be strengthened.
This is the musculature that pulls the shoulder head downwards in the socket. There are a variety of exercises, one of which is very effective and will be described in more detail here. Exercise The patient sits down next to a table or cupboard whose surface is at a height where the arm can still be lifted sideways easily and painlessly.
The arm is placed on the edge of the table so that the lower arm is parallel to the edge of the table, the upper body is straight and the view is also parallel to the edge of the table. Now the forearm is pressed into the table top as if it wanted to make an impression. The shoulder remains at a wide distance from the ear, the upper body is straight.
You should feel a slight tension in the lateral upper body and shoulder blade muscles. The tension is held for 10 seconds, then released and repeated 15 times. This exercise should be performed several times a day and can often provide quick relief. Long-term success can of course only be achieved through consistent performance and complementary therapy.
