Help for Rotator Cuff Injuries at Dearborn Health

Rotator cuff injuries vary from simple strains to more severe tears. A common injury, such as a rotator cuff strain, often occurs in weekend warriors who throw a ball after a long break and wake up with soreness, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

For muscle strains, we can manage the initial stages of inflammation using modalities like ultrasound and laser therapy. If there’s muscle tightening, techniques like Active Release Technique, massage therapy, or myofascial release can help loosen those areas. Joint dysfunction can be addressed with mobilization, and we provide exercises to strengthen the affected area, preventing future setbacks.

Treating Rotator Cuff Tears

When rotator cuff injuries become more severe, tears can occur due to high-intensity exercise or prolonged stress. Surgical intervention is usually unnecessary unless there’s a full-thickness tear or the patient is a professional athlete.

At Dearborn Health, we treat partial tears conservatively with rehab, physiotherapy, and chiropractic care. Our approach focuses on reducing inflammation, managing pain, minimizing adhesion and scar tissue formation, and retraining muscles to ensure proper movement patterns. This multifaceted rehab plan aims to return patients to their pre-injury status, often without the need for surgery.

Managing Rotator Cuff Impingement

Another common issue is rotator cuff impingement, where thickened tendons, such as tendinopathy, get pinched during certain movements, causing a painful arc when lifting the arm above the head. To manage this, we identify the affected tendon and reduce inflammation through various treatments. Techniques include reducing adhesions and scar tissue and retraining muscles for better-coordinated movement patterns to alleviate stress on the pinched tendon.

Inflammation Management

To reduce inflammation in the clinic and at home, we educate patients on methods such as icing and rest. Supportive taping, like kinesio tape, can also help reduce tension. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories may be recommended. In the clinic, effective modalities for reducing inflammation include:

• Laser therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Interferential current
• Acupuncture
• Shockwave therapy (particularly beneficial for calcific tendinopathy)

Exercise Rehabilitation Plan

Rotator Cuff Injuries Treatment in Waterloo, ON | (519) 884-4848