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Post-surgical care for impingement and rotator cuff
tears are similar. General care recommendations include:
Rehabilitation programs
for impingement and rotators cuff surgery differ slightly.
Impingement rehabilitation begins almost immediately:
-
Exercises to regain
shoulder motion usually begin with a therapist in the first week
after surgery and continue for about 6 weeks.
-
At 6 weeks, most
patients have regained full motion and will continue to regain strength
with a home exercise program.
-
Full recovery time after surgery
varies; most patients have greatly improved at 3 months and are
close to normal by 6 months.
Rotator cuff recovery is generally
slower and requires more supervision. . (In order to achieve a full and rapid recovery,
surgery should be performed as soon as the patient has full range of motion and has gained
good muscle strength from a physical therapy program started when the injury is first detected.)
The patient follows a closely monitored program which begins within the first week after surgery.
- Therapy is carefully controlled in the first 6 - 12 weeks while
the tendons heal back to the bone.
- The first goal is to regain
full motion within 6 weeks after surgery. A therapist will assist
in the early stages with gradual recovery of motion. The therapist will move
the shoulder passively to gradually restore range of motion, however:
- During the first 6 weeks, there is no active use of the shoulder
in order to protect the surgical repair. This means that you may not move the
shoulder on your own during this time period. You may remove your arm sling to move
the elbow, hand and the wrist but it should be reapplied at night or whenever you
leave your home.
- Once initial healing is achieved, a progressive stretching
and strengthening program begins.
- Full recovery can take more than 6 months. Some patients may
require more time to regain muscle strength and complete the healing
process.
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