Most upper body movements require a certain amount of shoulder strength and range of motion. Rotating the shoulder, lifting weights, and even putting your arms over your head utilizes the mobility of the shoulder joint. To help protect the ball-and-socket joint, a group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff works together to help stabilize the shoulder and rotate the arm. If your rotator cuffs are injured or torn, it can cause joint instability and pain.
Rotator cuff injuries can take weeks or months to recover, leaving you feeling stuck with pain and restricted mobility. Airrosti providers can help you understand the cause of your pain and treat problems at the source. Connect with an Airrosti provider today and see how Airrosti can help you recover faster.
Addressing 5 Common Misconceptions About Rotator Cuff Injuries
1. “Rotator Cuff Tears Are Uncommon.”
While they may often be confused with other shoulder injuries like tendonitis or bursitis, rotator cuff tears are still considered extremely common, affecting millions of Americans each year. While a tear can happen to anyone, individuals who are older or who compete in sports that require repetitive shoulder use are more likely to experience a rotator cuff tear.
2. “An MRI Is Needed To Diagnose A Rotator Cuff Injury.”
The MRI is an extremely useful diagnostic tool in healthcare that can help you discover potential sources of pain and accurately assess an injury. It is an extremely popular test because it can provide a clear image of most soft tissue injuries when compared to an X-Ray.
Even though they can be used to help diagnose an injury, MRIs can be costly and are not always necessary for diagnosis. In fact, many rotator cuff injuries can be diagnosed through more traditional means like functional movement screens that test your shoulder’s strength and range of motion.
3. “I Need Surgery To Fix A Rotator Cuff Injury.”
Contrary to popular belief, many rotator cuff injuries can recover without surgery. Conservative care options like rest, ice, and physical therapy are often the first steps taken to treat a rotator cuff injury. Surgery may be recommended if the rotator cuff is completely torn and pain persists after trying nonsurgical methods. Your doctor can help guide you through the recovery process and help you determine the best course of action to take.
4. “Arm Movement Is Impossible With A Rotator Cuff Tear.”
There are two types of rotator cuff tears – a partial tear and a complete tear. A partial rotator cuff tear means the tendons are damaged but still attached to the bone. In the case of a complete tear, the affected tendon separates completely from the bone. In both cases, shoulder weakness and pain are common symptoms that can make some arm movements difficult. Fortunately, these injuries are not permanent and can even recover quickly when given proper treatment.
5. “Exercise Makes Rotator Cuff Injuries Worse.”
While it is true that some activities can make your injury worse, especially if you’re adding more weight or stress than the shoulder can handle, you do not have to take a break from exercise altogether. In fact, long periods of inactivity may be detrimental as it increases your risk of developing frozen shoulder.
On the contrary, some exercises help strengthen your shoulders and help relieve rotator cuff pain. Your doctor or Airrosti provider can prescribe an exercise routine that works for your needs, ensuring you can continue to recover safely while enjoying the benefits of exercise.
Find Fast Relief From Rotator Cuff Pain
Whether you’ve experienced a recent injury or have been struggling with chronic pain for months, Airrosti providers are here to help you. Our goal is to find the root cause of your pain and fix injuries at the source for long-term relief.
Each provider spends significant one-on-one time with each patient, providing a thorough injury assessment and diagnosis and developing a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. By combining deep-tissue manual therapy with a customized active rehab plan, Airrosti treatment can resolve most soft-tissue injuries within 3 visits (based on patient-reported outcomes).
We want to help you get out of pain as quickly as possible. If your injury cannot be effectively resolved with Airrosti, your provider will assist you with an appropriate care referral.
Call us today at (800) 404-6050 to learn more about Airrosti treatment or schedule an appointment. We offer in-office and virtual appointments to best suit your needs.
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