Healing Rotator Cuff Injuries
Thursday, December 4th, 2008In this article, you’ll learn a bit about what a rotator cuff injury is and some of the available treatments for this injury. We’ll begin with an explanation of what rotator cuff injuries are and then move on to how they may be treated if you ever happen to have such an injury.
What are rotator cuff injuries?
Rotator cuff injuries are a very common complaint with elderly people. In most cases, these injuries result from the degeneration of the tendons and muscle tissue in the rotator cuff which is a natural part of the aging process.
The natural degeneration which is part of the aging process makes rotator cuff injuries much more common in the elderly. These injuries commonly include inflammation or tears in the muscle or tendons. There are other causes for these injuries, but the aging process and its related degeneration is the most common. Other causes include trauma or repetitive motion injuries, such as are suffered by construction or factory workers who frequently have to carry heavy items over their heads. Athletes are also subject to rotator cuff injuries, since they often engage in repetitive motion during their athletic pursuits.
How do I know if I have a Rotator cuff injury?
A rotator cuff injury will typically be manifested by pain on the top or outer side of the shoulder. The pain will intensify over time and is worse when performing motions which involve lifting one’s arms.
Rotator Cuff injury treatments:
There are several treatments for Rotator cuff injuries. Below we will discuss a few natural remedies that have proven to be quite beneficial for Rotator Cuff injuries:
Heat: Heat is a very effective natural treatment for most muscle injuries, with rotator cuff injuries being no exception. Heat helps to reduce inflammation and alleviates the pain of muscle injuries.
Cold: When the pain flares up from your rotator cuff injury, you can try placing an ice pack on your shoulder, which will also alleviate the pain and inflammation.
Rest: This is another natural method which can alleviate the pain of a rotator cuff injury. Resting will help you to recover from your injury more quickly.
Movement: This will hurt, but it is helpful in preventing stiffness due to the injury. Try alternating rest with just enough motion to prevent stiffness.
There are also several different medical treatments available for rotator cuff injuries. These treatments include injections of cortisone, heat ultrasound therapy and even surgery in the case of extreme rotator cuff injuries. In many cases though, natural remedies are effective in treating rotator cuff injuries. Since these injuries are not usually dangerous, you should seek medical treatment when your injury is serious in nature. With a minor rotator cuff injury, you can generally treat them yourself using these natural treatments.
If you find yourself with a rotator cuff injury, try the natural remedies given here and you will likely be able to treat your injury at home. If it is more serious, consult with your physician immediately.