Occupational Therapy & Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Occupational therapy (OT) is a medical treatment that seeks to bring relief from illnesses and medical conditions by making meaningful and healthy changes in the way you perform daily activities. Since rotator cuff injury is often caused by the way you use your arms and shoulders, changing the way you do daily actions or activities can make a dramatic difference. Occupational therapy for rotator cuff injuries can also be used to build strength and condition the muscles so you are better able to do your daily activities.
- Occupational therapy is usually recommended by a doctor or orthopedic surgeon as an extension of treatment or as the sole treatment for a rotator cuff injury. The root of occupational therapy is to tackle the source of the problem: the actions or conditions that caused the rotator cuff injury. This can involve learning better mechanisms of stretching and exercising the muscle before engaging in athletics. It can also involve learning to cope with a rotator cuff injury that is caused by old age or other irresolvable problems, by performing daily activities in a different manner that puts less strain on the shoulder. Occupational therapy can strengthen the tendons and muscles so further injury does not occur. Factors such as the stage of injury, extent of injury, nature of injury and seriousness of injury have to be taken into consideration while working out an OT regimen. After an evaluation of all these factors is done, the OT specialist creates a treatment plan.
- Occupational therapy can be used to treat rotator cuff problems, both to prevent surgery and also to rehabilitate the arm afterward. When diagnosed early, most rotator cuff injuries can be resolved without surgery, using some type of physical therapy. This physical therapy is not always occupational therapy, since occupational therapy is a targeted subset of physical therapy that focuses on performing daily tasks. Occupational therapy can be used alone, or in conjunction with other strength and muscle building physical therapy exercises.
- Occupational therapy methods are always dependent on the individual. However, some common methods are used on most patients. Improvements in posture and shoulder alignment are often stressed in occupational therapy. The OT specialist may also offer customized low-impact exercise plans designed to stretch the shoulder. If a rotator cuff injury is severe and you are unable to use your arm for a period of time, occupational therapists can help your learn to function without the use of that arm. This involves teaching you to dress and do other daily activities with one arm, or with minimal use of the injured shoulder.
- OT is most effective when the diagnosis is made at an early stage. Even if it is not effective as a treatment to cure rotator cuff injuries, it is usually effective at preventing aggravation of the problem. If the rotator cuff injury has become more advanced, occupational therapy can take a long time to have an impact--sometimes six months or more.
