Often when people hear the word rotator cuff related to shoulder pain they think surgery is necessary. However, surgery is often not required even if a person has a rotator cuff issue.

Let’s back up and set the stage a bit better here.

So…the rotator cuff is a set of 4 muscles which help move the arm (shoulder) through space. These muscles are necessary to help keep the “ball and socket” centered (so to speak) so as to avoid a variety of shoulder issues. Proper shoulder function requires a reasonable degree of coordination of all the muscles which act upon the shoulder joint.

Common shoulder issues related to the rotator cuff include tendonitis, bursitis, impingement, and a tear. Now people hear the word tear and automatically assume surgery is necessary.

BUT…in the case here, tiny “tears” happen with age anyway. In fact a large percent of people over the age of 40 will be found to have small tears without pain. Come again? That’s right, many people have small tears, have no pain, and function just fine.

Based on this, researchers have looked at the necessity of surgery vs rehab.  And what they found might shock you…multiple different research groups have found that for individuals with rotator cuff tears that the outcomes of surgery vs rehab are basically the same.

Say what?

Yes, the outcome from surgery for a rotator cuff tear is NO BETTER than rehab. This indicates surgery is likely not necessary PROVIDED the individual puts in the necessary rehab work.

Now YES, there will be those individuals who will NOT improve without surgery, BUT this percentage is smaller than believed 20 or even 10 years ago. A key indicator here will be the ability to reach overhead. If the person can reach overhead with minimal to no compensation, then they will likely respond well to rehab, even if painful. It is the inability to raise over shoulder height without leaning backward or throwing the arm up that is key.

The good news is, more people can now rehab successfully without surgery, meaning faster recovery and no risk of surgical infections.

Want to know more?…

As in how to sleep and function better without shoulder pain?

Then Click this LINK HERE to find out the next steps to NO longer live with rotator cuff pain.