Can I heal my torn ROTATOR CUFF?

Chad Madden, Physical Therapist, discusses the potential healing of a torn rotator cuff.
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[@rusavolk]

Short and down to the point, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for making this video!

[@smallfootprint2961]

I fell on my shoulder years ago, and broke my collar bone. Never got the help I needed, and have injured it further since. Some times more pain, and sometimes less. Right now, because of pts like you, I'm understanding what's going on, and what I can do. So much better. It may never be totally right, but I might get by with exercises and self treatment. Thank you so much.

[@EMSpdx]

This is such a wonderful video. I have this and I am preparing to start looking for a good PT to help me!

[@KaceyBakerFilms]

Thanks for this video. Well explained.

[@saladlamp2092]

Your video gives me hope. What's the name of the treatment/manipulation/manual technique that I should ask a physical therapist to do to increase the subacrominal space? Thanks.

[@SuperJohnfoster]

very good job at explaining thanks

[@vimzibaiegh]

Just a hunch, but I imagine stress would close the subacromial space too. Pressing one's elbow on a chair arm-rest would seemingly close the space as well. Story: About 4-5 years ago a sales rep told me he had an operation to repair a rotator cuff due to weight lifting. I remember the conversation, because I experience some pain in my shoulder as well as the infraspinatus of the clavicle. Just now I experimented stretching my arm downward and I sensed a bit of relief. Based on my experimenting just now, this type of physical therapy seems legitimate. What I always remember about the sales rep was that he said the rotator cuff can heal by itself. My personal belief is that if you can avoid the knife DO SO.

[@dfgnhdfdfbndsfb]

thank u.great video and very informative

[@wobblydangly]

The best explanation and the best exercises

[@barrymichaels2663]

I have this injury at the moment

[@lividkitten]

thanks for sharing this video. your visual the drawing of the rotator cuff is helpful. i am learning about this part of the body and working on exercises to get my full range of motion back. the physio hurts but i do my home exercises and i can feel some changes. thank you.

[@dondon98]

Great Video

[@bobmorane4463]

Amazing! The best explanation on this topic around! Short, comprehensive and simple. Thx.

[@anyview2264]

Thank you so much for all the Information, thats was so useful. keep up Doc.

[@rryan2855]

Thank you so much I loved it

[@georgegilles9008]

This video is highly informative. Thank you.

[@zadan4803]

Thank you, you're videos are a great help. Especially because i'm a PT student at the moment.

[@Paul90896]

Amazing info that gives us hope. Than you so Much!

[@legorulz1]

thank you for your input - I will question my PT guy when next I see him. Been going twice a week for the last two and a half weeks. Might even carefully ask about my thoracic outlet as a possibility :) He isn't of the opinion that my thumb pain is of any consequence, but I have to say - hurts like the dickens anyway. Appreciate the options you've provided - now at least I have a direction to go with this!

[@truerocker]

thanks for the info. I visited my doc. today and also had x-rays done; and based on his evaluation, he said it seemed like a pinched nerve due to "not so good" posture and bad sleeping position. Hopefully it's not too serious but anyways thank you!

[@adamrojas2012]

I really like your videos I tore my rotator cuff and I'm trying to avoid surgery..thanx for the tips👍

[@homemprovmentguy]

I tore mine initially about a year ago, but was able to deal with most limitations, then a few months after, I felt and heard it tear again while mountain biking. Then, about four months ago, I tripped going upstairs and hurt it worse than ever, but don’t recall hearing it tear again. It’s not my primary shoulder, so I can deal with the limitations. I think I’m ready to begin exercising again and want to strengthen the muscles around the area. I’m curious how you’ve come along?

[@richt6353]

thank you

[@truerocker]

I hope you can help me with my shoulder problem. Recently, I've been doing calisthenics, and after a month of it, I started doing wall-pushups specifically for a week. During the time, I use to sleep on my arms/ and at times in an abducted position. Soon, i started to notice a sensation that my right shoulder felt somewhat lower and imbalanced compared to the left, which felt perfectly stable. The right shoulder-joint area feels weird around the deltoids and the muscles connecting to the chest

[@Qjemuse]

I have a similar case as istra here. Pain comes from the back of the shoulder and whenever I do bench press or overhead shoulder workouts there's the clicks and pain hurts like stain. I initially hurt my shoulder doing bench press.. And that was already 6 yrs ago. Went to a few physicians and trainers and none could identify and provide me with a solution. I'll be grateful for any more tips I really want it fixed and not have it haunt me later down the road.. Thanks!!!

[@zadan4803]

what kind of exercises would you recommend doing to strengthening that area of weakness?

[@FirstMateSailor]

My husband had the same thing with weakness and minimal pain. We thought it was rotator cuff tear too. After he had the EMG test, it turned out to be neck disc impinging the nerves to the shoulder. After the MRI, it was discovered the disc was rubbing on disc. He had an insertion of small round cadaver bone placed inbetween the discs and now he can move his arm without any weakness. Explore that possibility. In order to have the procedure, weakness and pain is the criteria.

[@camwells9726]

Good Video , Ive had an ongoing problem for quite a while , pain in the Rotator cuff area after weights sessions , and tendonitis , Last month or two it got worse , I rested it for a while , but the pain is still around , doctor told me I should look into a Cortisone shot , the guy that gave the shot under ultrasound a week ago told me I have a small tear . But said they dont repair and I may need surgery . I have not had any other opinions yet , but going by your video and reading the comments here , I may be ok with treatment ?

[@p0pper771]

Hi! Could you show us or refer to specific exercises we can do at home to open up the space between the two bones? I can't really afford to see a physical therapist but I can do exercises. Thank you very much!

[@katodmx007]

Thanks for the quick response! I will do that.

[@marilynmarcelli270]

Thanks this helped me 4 years ago and now it’s the other side.

[@p0pper771]

Thanks! I really appreciate it. hope others could learn as well.

[@Gangu5Kahn]

Thank you very much...But do you think its worth doing any PT for now just to see if it works? The exercises I've seen online don't bother me to do, there is no pain.

[@dryoutsystems8901]

Slight shoulder pain started appx 5 years ago while bench pressing, However, 2 yrs ago I was throwing a ball and started feeling extreme sharp pain in my shoulder and forearm. Went to an orthepedic surgeon got an MRI it revealed no tears to my RC. He gave me a cortizone shot in my forearm and shoulder. The forearm pain went away but the shoulder pain remains. I can dig down and and feel the inflammed muscle / tendon below the cluster of muscles that connects the top of my shoulder to my arm.

[@AndNowYourMommaKnows]

Great video. I think I may have torn mine.

[@timhuber5610]

On my 5th week back with weights seeing great gains muscle memory is awesome I'm actually almost back to where I was 5 months ago and only hit chest once but shoulder feels good been really working out the back rear delts side delts of course arms & legs then hit chest and feeling good. My injury is more of a muscle tightness & nerves little pinched I'm still stYing away from a few lifts like not doing presses over head but I don't need to hell u hit shoulders all the time I'm at the good sore level now

[@katodmx007]

Hi, my rotator cuff does hurt when i do the things u talked about, reaching overhead, driving etc. i also feel a pull when i turn my head to the right (injuried shoulder). sometimes i can feel it pull from behind my right ear, through my right trapezius, through the shoulder and further down my ribcage/lats. it is even visible in my neck, it looks like a tendon pushing through/out to the side. my neck is actually giving me more problems in daily life than the shoulder.

[@789654map01]

My injury prevents me from lifting weights, throwing or push ups can i rehab my shoulder to do these things again?

[@fifilatapette]

Thanks for this excellent video - i don't really condone self-diagnosis but it certainly helps to educate oneself!

[@anjylkat]

A really good massage therapist with advanced training and experience can also help this injury, as I've done it with many myself. In other videos with PTs and orthorpedic surgeons state pointedly that any tear to the rotator cuff will not heal because it's not designed to do so. Thanks for stating a person can heal their RC tear, unless it's a severe tear. According to statistics worldwide, many rotator cuff surgeries fail, so I am happy to hear your version & I totally agree! {:D

[@heelspurs]

Spent last few hours looking at videos & stretching.It hurts on top-outside shoulder exactly under acromium with "behind back" stretch. The hurt feels good & it stretches out. However, there is pain & 15 deg limitation on internal & ext rotation at any position & I can see that scapula move more for any arm position relative to unaffected side, so it seems like adhesive capsulitis, except I can raise arm almost vertically, w/ pain. Strength everywhere is good. Stretch int & ext rot = no change

[@trickerdgaming]

Is doing wall slides three times a day everyday of the week over kill? or is it ok to do some with impingement?

[@ehsansaid3684]

Can you show what those techniques are used by therapists and what exercises I can perform.

[@Havek1005]

I too have the same pain. Been a while. ried PT and cortisone. Minimal relief. Two MRIs . one says subscap tear 4mm and solid labrum. the other said labrum tear and solid sub scap. I will try your suggestions. I was leaning toward scoping the shoulder. I only goto sports docs because i am big guy. and normal ROM tests dont indicate as im strong as hell. the most pain is when hand on opposite shoulder and i raise the elbow up. stars

[@expressenglishtraining]

If the studies show that I have the supraspinatus tendon broken by 1cm of the rotator cuff, is it possible that It can be healed with therapies and exercises? or I should necessary have a surgery?

[@k9feces]

Good explanation

[@MrKiwi4lyfe]

what's the difference between a Torn Rotator Cuff and Tendonitis? thank you

[@jaumeverdersferrer]

Ok I found the pdf with the exercises but I would still like to read your opinion on which is the most likely injury that affects me, thanks

[@TGBL2]

I was doing the ab wheel recently when in full entension felt my shoulder give out. I have had discomfort since and at times it has been painful. I don't have health insurance so I can't go to a doctor or PT, so I have been trying to figure out what my injury is - At first I thought a deltoid strain but now I believe it to be the rotator cuff. I can still do pushups, and bicep curls but can't do the wheel or shoulder presses. Been using Ben Gay, ice & Alieve. Is it ok for me to continue lifting?

[@carollindley2058]

I've recently been diagnosed with impingement rotary cuff tendinitis also had a Ultra scan etc! After exercising the pain just seems to get worse. My painful arm started after l had a Covid jab over six months ago. Could you suggest other ways of relieving my pain. Would an X ray or MRI scan have a better view of what's going on inside my shoulder/arm.

[@samlee9285]

Do you have an opinion/good rehab techniques for a revers bankart lesion? I've had it for a few years and surgery is currently out of the question. It causes me a lot of discomfort in my shoulder and arm, any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[@dianabucher2899]

I have a full thickness near complete width tear of my right rotator cuff. I've had 4 PT treatments which consists of stretching only. Wrist curls, tilting my neck from side to side and back to front, dangling my arm from side to side with rotation, shoulder blade squeezing. Manual manipulation from the physical therapist with a bend elbow extended straight, outward and above my head rotation. The exercises are brutal and the following days I'm in so much pain that I don't want to return for next appointment. The orthopedic Surgeon has recommended PT for 6 to 8 weeks if the pain does not improve then surgery. I'm a 65 yr. old woman. Any recommendations? Thank you

[@petermamon]

I too have the pain when throwing a baseball, I pitched from around the age of 8 to 17 then stopped for 10 years. Once I started again the pain didnt come right away but about the 3rd game in it did, without any pitching, just normal throwing to get my arm back in shape. It only hurts when making a throwing motion and if I lift my arm over my head. Should I stop throwing all together or will the correct stretches/exercises work?

[@ethanbrown1804]

I have been playing baseball nonstop for about 2 months, what do you suggest I do.

[@charlatanbaby]

I have this exact same problem, what exactly will the physical therapist do?

[@gurjarlalit85]

I have partial thickness tear in supraspinatus ligament. Can i heal it naturally

[@djolliej]

thanks for this very informative

[@sheshickey]

I know this is really old, but it is extremely encouraging and helpful. Thank you.

[@klm1061]

I was using a resistance band when my injury occurred. I am feeling pain not only in my shoulder but my arm. My forearm throbs in pain and a painfil pins and needles sensation sometimes travelling to my fingers. I also experience pain in my lower back of the shoulder blade. I saw my doctor yesterday and I received a 5 minute (or less) diagnosis of an injured rotater cuff along RX for tylenol3. Any recommendations besides getting a new doctor (which I am going to do)?

[@lkilpatrick0201]

none of this is stopping me from excersise but i want to fix the problem before it gets worse, i do have bad posture and my shoulders slightly roll forward. I tried some rotator cuff strengthening today and on my right side i found it noticably harder moving in a direction than with my left. The area where you showed the sub chromeo space my muscle is very tender ont hat part of my shoulder on a specific point. I was just wondering if this sounds like a rotator cuff injury to you.

[@W00lyBully]

if i have bursitis or tendonitis can it heal itself, i have been having pain for a long time, however you said before injection will help pain but not solve issue. the issue is mainly front part of shoulder and i suspect its from overtraining chest over the years.

[@_Boomcicle_]

Thank you for this useful information

[@777DEHME]

where do you work dear i want to visit for my shoulder. i feel like you are talking about the same issue i have

[@christianschramm6579]

Hi. I'd like to ask you a question about my shoulder and my rotator cuff « injury » / « inflammation ». I never had any shoulder or rotator cuff injury/inflammation in the past before. 3 days ago, I went to the gym and did my usual set of Pec Deck. I stretched a little bit too much during my set and after I had an unusual pain in my left shoulder. The pain is slowly going away, but when I do specific movement ( like the pec deck movement ), I can hear some noise in my shoulder ( cric/crac )

[@DanielHX]

is it a full tear if your arm dislocates abit while sleeping in that position you showed? at times i'll wake up with my arm asleep also but it hasn't happened since summer ene

[@MikeDGuitar]

I think I tore my rotator cuff muscle that's in the front; I thought it was a chest muscle. I got it from a looping stretching exercise using my arms. I let it heal on its own, and I think it's 90% healed, maybe more. Is letting that muscle heal on its own okay?

[@christianschramm6579]

Thanks for your answer :) I'll let the healing process do it's job !

[@alidemir309]

very good explanation, congratulations!

[@lkilpatrick0201]

Hi there, i've had this injury for nearly 2 years or so, i train alot with calisthenics and martial arts and i guess i must have done something a while back, the symptoms i have and today i must have slept on my right shoulder funny, i have a locked sternum and usually i can pop it back into place but today its sore on the right side and it wont click fully, i guess its inflamed. When i move my head to the left i feel a pull on my right back which is slightly painful coming from under my scapula

[@meenakshi1991vijaytv]

Dr, can you kindly prescribe some medicines for these kind of symptoms, pls. I have this issue since few months. Underwent x-ray, MRI & also eventually physiotherapy for a week. Ofcourse took medicines too. But yet no effect but for expenditure I had.. So kly help for the people like me plssss🙏🙏

[@timmbartholomew8478]

just went to the site and couldn't find the videos. Could you post a link? Thanks very much.

[@MISCpullupcontest]

What would your guess be till my shoulder is healed. Heres my scenario. In august i hurt my shoulder doing dips. I couldnt do a single bodyweight pull up or even do shoulder press with just my hands.. for a month. and it hurt to do the empty can test. now i am painfree but if i lay on that side of the shoulder i feel a slight ache. it feels 90% better. i noticed my injured shoulder is alot less flexible than other arml.( i can only putarm half way on my back and my other arm goes higher

[@pianoglider]

I have had soreness and a small twinge around where my side deltoid and arm meet when putting my arm in certain positions. This has been going on for 2 weeks. I did this while taking off my jacket really fast during a musical performance. Can this cause a tear in the rotator cuff?

[@tpaciello]

My MRI shows a 90% tear and labral fraying. My doctor said I can try PT but I will probably need surgery in the future. My main pain is sleeping on my right side. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance and I really appreciate your video.

[@ianm991]

I did the same year of the injury, I wasn't in my country, I was in a foreign country.. so the foreign doctor said I had tendonitis. 5 years later my shoulder still suffers from popping thus bringing pain, and I try to stretch it, and my left shoulder just hurts right near at the Bursa area. I do workout with it and do use resistant bands for lifting and resistance for my shoulder. It hurts most when I straighten my elbow and do the resistance exercise, it hurts and my shoulder gives out smetims

[@Ovo926]

Sorry if this was already asked but any suggestions for type/brand of band to purchase?

[@swerveembue5274]

I was doing chest press with 60lb dumbells and my right shoulder pretty much gave out. Neck's not tight when I turn it to the right (injured shoulder) but i do feel a pull around my trap/neck when i turn to the left. Also that area cramps up when I run. Yes I am a side sleeper, and no my PT really just massages the area and goes over how im doing the exercises.

[@jordanglenn291]

This video has given me hope. Thank you!

[@adamriale9065]

Jordan Glenn . I had impingement surgery at 30. 2 years later doing everything by the book and I’m still in pain. Had a mri last week. And I have 2 rotator tears narrowing (to 5mm) and fluid on my bursa. Not sure what the surgery accomplished other than more pain. That surgery that’s being referenced in this video should be a last stitch attempt only.

[@Tsaunders1307]

What if you lift? I tore my rotator cuff lifting and it is getting better with PT but I am still scared to lift, is surgery necessary if you want to lift weights?

[@christianschramm6579]

I can feel pressure inside my shoulder. So I try to avoid that... Other than that, sometimes ( like now ) I don't feel any kind of pain or discomfort inside my shoulder... Sometimes, However, it still feels like it is inflammed... Does it take the same time to heal than a type 1 strain or is it longer ? Thanks again :)

[@arod883]

I have been having shoulder pain while throwing a baseball, in the Acromion and Bursa areas. The pain only acts up when I make a throwing motion. Sometimes with a heating pad put on before throwing the pain takes longer to arrive or not at all. Sometimes I can get 25 throws in with no issue, sometimes the 2nd ball I throw in the day starts the pain. I have never pitched and only throw now about once a week for softball. Could rotator cuff exercises help/ fix it?

[@youtubebrowser1730]

last month i had complete shoulder ligament trear, and doctors suggested surgery, can my problem can be treated without surgery ? i cant lift my arm . please reply

[@buzzlightyear891]

I hope you can give me some advice. i injured myself lifting weights like in december of last year. i still have pain when i workout. when i injured myself my arm was pulled backwards and when i stood up. my shoulder was popping out and i decided to put it back in place. tomorrow i will stop lifting weights and boxing. and see if acupuncture will help. hope to hear back from you.

[@vinbiotech]

I had a shoulder surgery bankart repair in 2012 arthroscopic surgery, was all fine till now good strength. But to my bad luck few weeks ago I again had a shoulder dislocated even after surgery. Can this occur again? Doc said to be in sling and do physiotherapy. Pls experts need your suggestion in my situation :(

[@christianschramm6579]

Is that the inflammed Rotator Cuff / tendons who are doing this cric/crac noise. Or did the tendons became loose ( because of over-stretching ) and now my shoulder joint is moving with some specific movement and will the noise ever go away?

[@KingdomUploader]

can i safely increase my subcronial space myself by Gently decompressing my own ball joint? i can hold my arm with my legs and GENTLY stretch it apart. Once there, i would need to know which movements to make.........i am use to decompression since the 80's with an inversion table...........advice?

[@brownie1823gc]

Hey Madden PT I hurt my shoulder bench pressing i did my max about 8 times in one day. I think its my rotater cuff but not sure what do you think i should do? Every one says its a common injury when you bench press alot.

[@conka101]

Hi I'm not sure what my issue is. Last night I was doing the olympic snatch movement and as I was doing it I found my left shoulder becoming gradually weaker until a point when I put the bar down and could barely lift my arm straight out in front of me. I couldn't produce any strength using my shoulder and the only way I could lift my arm properly was to use the muscles around it, for example the trapezius. I don't experience any pain really but I fear I've damaged the rotator cuff. Any Advice?

[@SB-md4tt]

This guy is on point on everything!!!! Omg

[@bondsan]

i have this and it looks like my collar bone is sticking up and to be honest i have just found out more about it here than i did at my doctors. When you said you could go back to normal usage, i am a boxer and at the mo i have lost my power shot and the overhand right, is there anything i can do ? .

[@RamirezAngelita]

I did the empty can, hawkins and I can't remember the other one... my rotator cup starting hurting 30 minutes ago... when I move it my forearm aches.. is this temporary or do i need help?

[@truerocker]

and back region. I also noticed that when I turned or rotated my right shoulder away, it makes a crackling sound. And finally I feel tension in my neck muscle/area connected to the right shoulder. There isn't any pain but this weird, imbalanced and lowered sensation of my right shoulder. Are these symptoms of a serious injury? And if yes, is there an approach to heal it?

[@arioch101]

My left shoulder bothers me during my workout. Doing shoulder presses/military presses aggravates the shoulder and I feel weak but only at a certain angle. Once the weight is up and I space my hands to a wider grip, the pain and weakness is not so bad. Do I have a rotator cuff issue? I do sleep with my arm extended and experience some pain after several hours of sleep.

[@millertimes8]

Madden, would appreciate any feedback you could offer... where you are pointing at 1:28 - this is where I have some pain, it feels tight/tender and if I push into that area, it is tender to touch, but just in that small area, however, I have full ROM and work on mobility/flexibility every day I train, any ideas what this is?

[@2007dodi]

I have an assignment about rotator cuff tendopathy (RCT), while I am searching, I am confused between impingement syndrome (IS) and the RCT, are they related and connected? the RCT is caused by IS, is that correct? and Please if you can explain the key intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for rotator cuff tendinopathies in biomechanics

[@FabioCrow07770]

I tripped going up the stairs last week and I went to catch myself on a stair but my fingers brushed past the step I was going for and fell to the lower step. My arm buckled underneath me and bent in a weird way. it feels better now but not 100% still some pain in the front of the shoulder

[@FarmerC.J.]

Good information.....I just started shock wave therapy for my two tears. It has helped. I’m hoping with the therapy and physical therapy I will be able to avoid surgery. I pray for a miraculous healing everyday 🙏🏻✝️❤️

[@farukm7627]

I have a tear in the suprapinatus and need surgery but because I suffer from blood clots in the brain, the surgery is risky as I might end up with a stroke. Only solution is physiotherapy. I'm in so much pain. Will this help?

[@lacrimablu7]

I fell about less than 2 months ago in the bathroom. They did MRI. I broke tail bone and had a big bursitits and a torn rotator cuff. They drained the bursitis. I felt good for a day or two. Then 3 weeks later. I got A pain that I couldnt sleep for nothing in the world. I take heavy sleep meds...for weeks. He schedule me for surgery in 2.5 wk. I notice I have pain once in a while and losing movement. But its not hurting as bad sleeping. Is it healing by it self or am I overmedicating myself?

[@pretentiousfairy]

Can you give me any advice?

[@IsJorgee]

So my rotator cuff been hurting me for 4 months now do you know if I need surgery??

[@geetavc1997]

Hi my MRI shows Thick tear for 1cm. Doc suggest surgery. Can I avoid surgery