Why you need physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery

Lifting your arm to grab something above your head. Playing catch with your kids. Getting through a day at work without pain. All these things can be harder to do if you have a rotator cuff injury. 

The rotator cuff is one of the most commonly injured parts of the shoulder. In fact, it’s reported that about 2 million Americans visit their doctor about a rotator cuff issue every year. Physical therapists can help you recover after a rotator cuff surgery. These specialists can help you meet specific rehab goals, and they can do so using a rehab plan that’s personalized to your needs. 

What are some goals physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery can help you meet?

After a rotator cuff surgery, each patient should consider the recovery goals they wish to shoot for. Physical therapy specialists can share some of the most common post-surgical goals with you. 

Some of the goals your physical therapist can help you meet after shoulder surgery include: 

1. Reducing post-surgical pain
2. Decreasing stiffness in the affected shoulder
3. Improving your ability to move your shoulder unassisted 
4. Strengthening the shoulder to help prevent future issues 

How can physical therapy specialists help you meet these goals?

Physical therapists have many therapy techniques at their disposal. They also have the expertise to combine these techniques into an individualized post-rotator cuff surgery physical therapy plan. 

A few of the therapy techniques that your physical therapist could include in your program include: 

• Manual therapy designed to mobilize the affected shoulder joint
• Therapeutic exercises intended to strengthen the muscles around the recovering shoulder 
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) designed to reduce scar tissue buildup 
• At-home care sessions to help you recover from home
• Virtual therapy sessions that allow you to work with your physical therapist over a secure online video feed

Find the physical therapy you need after rotator cuff surgery at Advent Physical Therapy

Unsure where you can find effective physical therapy after a rotator cuff surgery? Our physical therapy specialists at Advent Physical Therapy are here to help you. We offer complimentary screenings that can assess where you are in your recovery process. Additionally, our physical therapists are adept at building individualized therapy plans designed to reduce pain and speed up post-surgical recovery.

We can even help you prepare for your surgery more effectively. This is possible thanks to pre-surgical rehab plans, and these plans are intended to strengthen your injured shoulder. In turn, this can help both prepare it for surgery and speed up your post-surgical recovery. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can assist you after surgery or to schedule an initial appointment.