Zachary Said:

physical therapy?

We Answered:

There is no exercise that we can recommend you do without first performing an evaluation. Physical therapy is highly individualized and completely dependent on the results of your physical exam. For instance, a diagnosis of "subluxation" is meaningless for rehab until we find out in what direction the joint in lax, which specific muscles are weak or tight...etc. Starting three days earlier should not have any affect on your outcomes. I would wait until the PT exam. Good luck.

Samuel Said:

Had shoulder surgery last week, Physical Therapy is?

We Answered:

Sorry to hear about your dillemma...however, I would not recommend working on your own with this. Depending on the size of your tear, you could very, very easily damage the repair. For instance, if you had a tear that extended into the infraspinatus and teres minor, stretching into IR too soon could damage it. Forcing abduction before you get adequate depression of the "ball in the socket" (glenohumeral joint), could lead to impingement and retear the repair. ...you get the idea.

At the very least, if you had a small tear, you should be able to progress very well on your own with only a few visits every now and then to tell you what to do next and how much.

However, if you had anything beyond a medium sized tear, I find it quite imperative you work closely with the therapist.

I would not recommend doing some of the exercises Richard mentions yet...the one behind the back with the rope puts an excessive amount of tension of the rotator cuff and it should not be performed for at least 8 weeks.

If you surgeon convinced you to pay out of pocket for the surgery without telling you to also save up for the 3-5 months of rehab (if you had a large tear), then shame on him/her for not being forthcoming with you. The surgery is absolutely pointless if you wind up tearing it again.

I'd have a couple suggestions for you. First, if you are attending a PT clinic in a hospital setting, many have payment plan options. If that doesn't work, I'd go to a small private clinic where prices tend to be much lower and possibly at discounted rates if you are paying cash.

Sorry I can't give you more specific advice without knowing more about where in the cuff and how large the tear was. But generally speaking, if it's a small tear, you can begin "active assissted" range of motion exercises such as the "cane" exercises and can gradually begin a general rotator cuff program (and easy search on the internet). For large to massive tears, you should be having someone gently stretch your arm for you for the first 4-6 weeks before beginning anything on your own...passive stuff only at this point, nothing active.

Carl Said:

What is physical therapy like?

We Answered:

The Physical Therapist will devise a routine for you. Some exercises will include laying on a bed working abdominal muscles, legs, etc. It will be geared to the extent of your injuries. The doctor will write limitations if necessary.