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Shoulder Injuries |
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Regaining full fitness - RehabilitationRehabilitation is defined as the restoration of normal form and function after injury or illness. Shoulder rehabilitation is an integral part of the management of shoulder injury. The rehabilitation may commence immediately after the initial consultation following an injury or illness. The physiotherapist plays a vital role in the rehabilitation of the shoulder after surgery. Although most physiotherapy rehabilitation takes place in the gym under the supervision of your physiotherapist, home exercises are vital to ensure the success of a rehabilitation programme. Sheets of exercises are given to the patient at the end of treatment session and the patients are advised to carry on with the exercises at home. This constitutes the "rehabilitation phase." |
There are different types of exercises that are performed as a part of the shoulder rehabilitation.
In the early stages of injury or inflammation, in order to allow scar formation to occur in the normal lines of stress, only painless active and passive ranges of motion should be allowed. These may be in the form of gravity aided pendulum exercises.
Proprioceptive and core stability exercises are important components of post-operative rehabilitation. Proprioception is the body’s ability to judge the position of the joint and its movement. This is usually impaired following shoulder injury.
Core stability is the name given to the strengthening of the corset of muscles surrounding the back and abdomen. These muscles are also known as the 'core' or powerhouse muscles and provide a solid base upon which all other muscles can work upon to initiate movement.
Once the movement is regained after injury or surgery resistance exercises are commenced to improve muscle strength and joint stability. Resistance bands or elastic bands such as theraband, cliniband or Ci Band can be used to provide resistance to a muscle.
In some instances hydrotherapy may be beneficial. Hydrotherapy is proven to be a highly effective form of natural therapy, which works by stimulating the endorphins (chemicals in the brain), which in turn helps you to control pain and alleviate tension. The hydrobath works by releasing millions of large bubbles, which relaxes your muscular tension and helps to reduce swollen joints giving you increased mobility and more importantly lessens your pain.
