Your rotator cuff consists of four muscles and their tendons, which help stabilize your shoulder joint and facilitate movement. A rotator cuff tear is a common shoulder injury that happens when the tendons tear due to injury, overuse, or degeneration — and it’s an injury that can significantly impact your daily life.
A rotator cuff tear can make simple activities like lifting your arm or reaching overhead painful and difficult, and healing can take several weeks or even months. The good news? Our team at Manhattan Orthopedics can help you accelerate healing after a rotator cuff tear.
We specialize in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which taps into your body’s natural healing power to help you get back to your normal activities faster.
Rotator cuff tears can happen for several reasons, and they’re often classified into two main categories: acute injuries and degenerative tears.
Acute tears occur suddenly, often as the result of a traumatic event, like falling on an outstretched arm or lifting something too heavy. These types of tears are common in athletes and people who perform repetitive overhead motions, like painters.
Degenerative tears, on the other hand, happen gradually due to natural wear-and-tear on the tendons. Age-related degeneration can weaken your rotator cuff, making it more susceptible to injury. People over the age of 40 are particularly prone to this type of tear, especially if they engage in repetitive shoulder movements or have a history of shoulder problems.
If you have shoulder pain, start by talking to a doctor about your symptoms. We offer comprehensive exams to diagnose the cause of your symptoms, and we can put together a customized treatment plan based on the severity of your injury.
Minor tears typically heal in a few weeks with conservative treatments, like rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy plays a crucial role in strengthening the surrounding muscles, improving range of motion, and preventing future injuries.
For more severe tears or cases where conservative treatments don't provide relief, it might be time to consider rotator cuff surgery. Surgery repairs the torn tendons, and although it comes with a longer recovery process, it may be your best option to regain full function of your shoulder.
Whether you have a minor rotator cuff tear or a more severe injury, PRP therapy could complement your treatment plan and help accelerate healing, so you can get back to your favorite activities faster.
PRP therapy is a regenerative medicine technique that involves injecting a concentrated solution of your own platelets into the injured area. Platelets contain growth factors that support tissue repair and regeneration, and therapy can enhance your body’s ability to heal from injury.
When you get PRP therapy, we take a small sample of your blood and separate the platelets using a centrifuge. We inject the concentrated PRP solution directly into your damaged rotator cuff, and the growth factors in the PRP solution help stimulate healing by promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation.
PRP therapy can be particularly beneficial for people who hope to avoid surgery or who have had surgery and want to accelerate post-op healing. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that typically requires little downtime, so you can start physical therapy and rehabilitation sooner.
Are you dealing with a rotator cuff tear? Seeking a professional evaluation early on — and consider treatment options like PRP therapy to help you recover more quickly. Learn more about your options with a consultation at Manhattan Orthopedics in Astoria, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, New York. Call us, or book your appointment online to get started.
