|
Rehabilitation after Rotator Cuff
Surgery
| The type
of rehabilitation and physical therapy that is prescribed after rotator
cuff surgery depends upon the size of tear, how securely the tear
was repaired, the age of the patient, and how well they are able to
tolerate physical therapy. While each program is slightly different,
there are some general guidelines for rehabilitation after fixing
tears in the rotator cuff. For example, in this program for rehabilitation,
there are four phases of physical therapy, as follows: |
| Phase
1 (0 to 6 weeks) |
- Passive
range of motion exercises only for almost all tears.
- Active-assisted
range of motion for very small tears or repairs with exceptionally
good tissue
|
| Phase 2 (6
to 12 weeks) |
- Full passive motion
- Begin active-assisted
motion
- Strengthen intact
cuff muscles
- Begin to strengthen
the muscles that stabilize the shoulder blade
|
| Phase 3 (12
to 16 weeks) |
- Passive stretching
beyond the patient's own range of motion
- Strengthening the
repaired cuff muscles
- More strengthening
of the stabilizers of the shoulder blade
|
| Phase 4 IV
(> 16 weeks) |
- Functional strengthening
- Rehabilitation for
sports
|
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