One of the problems associated with rotator cuff surgery is the size of the muscles and tendons being repaired.  Sometimes, there’s just not a whole lot to work with.  Enter the “Net Bridge” technique.

A  special fiber-tape which anchors to the bone is used to create a net that compresses and helps hold the newly repaired rotator cuff.  The Net Bridge provides extra protection and strength.

If you’re facing rotator cuff surgery ask your shoulder surgeon about the Net Bridge technique.

FREE Shoulder Information

Everyone loves FREE stuff.  Since you found us, here’s our FREE offer to you.  Sign up and receive an email notification when we post new material here at Shoulder Rehab and Performance.  No Bull, No Spam, No “buy my stuff” …. just shoulder information like this blog post.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: shoulder injury, shoulder pain, shoulder surgery

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

4 Joints of the Shoulder

When we talk about the shoulder joint, we generally think about the union of the upper arm ( our humerus ) and the socket ( our glenoid )…BUT did you know the shoulder is really composed of 4 joints?

• the Glenohumeral Joint
• the Acromioclavicular Joint
• the Sternoclavicular Joint
• the Scapulothoracic Joint (not really a true jont)

Shoulder Anatomy and Shoulder Function Explained

In this video, Eric Beard guides you through shoulder anatomy, function of the various shoulder joints and how much range of motion you should expect.  So, what happens if your shoulder doesn’t move as it should?  Some of the results will be:

• Shoulder pain
• Limited range of motion
• Premature wearing of the shoulder joint structures and trauma
• Frustration

Click here to view the embedded video.

Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.

How to Get FREE Shoulder Information

Just click on this link and we’ll send you an email when we post a new article here at Shoulder Rehab and Performance.  No Spam …. EVER!  Just good shoulder health information you can use.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: range of motion, shoulde joint, shoulder education, shoulder mobility

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

The Complexity of the Shoulder Complex

In this video, Eric Beard ( corrective exercise specialist, performance enhancement specialist, CSCS ) does and excellent job describing the complexity of the shoulder joints and how they function.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Eric Beard – the Real Deal

Eric is incredibly knowledgeable and willing to share his expertise via his website, Youtube channel and his Twitter account.  From a personal standpoint, I can say Eric is the “real” deal.  I first met Eric online via Twitter and after “conversing” for several weeks, sent a Rotater to him for evaluation.  A few months later, Eric was speaking at a conference in Atlanta and I had the opportunity to have dinner with him.  He is an amazing person, has become a great friend and has helped me on a number of occasions.

If you get the chance to hear Eric speak, do it!  Otherwise, follow him on Twitter, read his blog and watch his videos.

How to Increase Your Shoulder Performance

Simple, get better shoulder information.  How?  Sign up to receive our blog updates sent to your email.  No strings, No SPAM…just shoulder exercises, videos, news and research.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: athletic trainer, scapula, shoulder anatomy, shoulder function, shoulder mobility

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Rolling for Shoulder Mobility

Thanks to Joe Meglio for publishing this great shoulder video.  Joe demonstrates how to use a foam roller and lacrosse ball to work out the trigger points that may be limiting your shoulder mobility.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Try It … Your Shoulder Will Thank You

You really can’t appreciate how good this feels until you give it a try.  I especially like how Joe moves his shoulder through both external and internal rotation while stretching with the lacrosse ball.

If you find the lacrosse ball to be a little too hard, then give it a try with a tennis ball and work up to the lacrosse ball.  Leave me a comment sharing your thoughts.

Tweeting the Shoulder Stuff

If you’re on twitter and your shoulder performance is important to you, then follow us.  We post mega amounts of shoulder stuff…stuff you need.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baseball, external rotation, internal rotation, physical therapy, self-stretch, shoulder exercises, shoulder mobility, shoulder rehab

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Frozen shoulder sucks!

• No one knows what causes it – in fact – “Most often, frozen shoulder occurs with no associated injury or discernible cause”
• We do know that frozen shoulder results from inflammation, scarring, thickening and shrinkage of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint.
• An injury to the shoulder can lead to frozen shoulder.
• No one can tell you how long it will last.

The Mayo clinic reports:

Your risk of developing frozen shoulder increases if you’ve recently had to have your arm in a sling for several weeks, or if you have had surgery in which your arm was immobilized in a specific position for a prolonged period.

How to Heal a Frozen Shoulder

That’s a million dollar statement – if you knew how to do it.  In truth, typical treatment involves:  the use of anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and physical therapy.  Physcial therapy can involve several different modalities:

• Ice packs
• Electric stimulation
• Range of motion stretches
• strengthening exercises

If none of this helps, you may be a candidate for Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)

Sounds sanitary – doesn’t it?  What it really means is that you’re put to sleep and then your shoulder joint is forced to move in various positions:  flexion, external rotation, internal rotation.  This manipulation stretches and tears the scar tissue that has developed in the joint capsule.  Oh – they put you to sleep because of the pain involved.

Video of Shoulder Joint Manipulation Under Anestesia

Click here to view the embedded video.

Notes from MUA video

As you can see, the doctor performing the manipulation in the video is moving the patients shoulder in the same way a physical therapist does during physical therapy.  The only difference is the doctor is not inhibited by the patients pain level.

Self-Stretching for Frozen Shoulder

You could take matters into your own hands….here’s how to Stretch Your Shoulder with the Rotater.  Here’s what one frozen shoulder sufferer had to say about the Rotater:

“Thank heavens for my discovery of The Rotater. In therapy, the trained therapist could manipulate my arm to keep/increase rotation but on my own I wasn’t able to do that very well at all. Therapy, at $80/session, was getting expensive yet I knew I needed to keep up the rotational manipulation so that when the “thawing” began I would still have retained as much shoulder/arm function as possible.

The Rotater allows me to work with the limited function of my shoulders to continue exercising my arms and shoulders. Even with both shoulders involved, the Rotater device permits easy stretching and holding to get a “good” rotation. While the device looks “simple,” this is not a “one trick pony” with one stretch only; you can use The Rotater you’re your own body to rehab your shoulder with internal and external rotation in several positions.”

Read the rest of this frozen shoulder success story.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: external rotation, frozen shoulder, internal rotation, manipulation

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Last month I wrote an article describing how shoulder replacement is an option for dealing with chronic shoulder pain. However, this procedure is not for everyone.  If you have an irrepairable rotator cuff tear, then conventional shoulder replacement surgery will not provide the results that you hope for.

Reversing the solution

By reversing the placement of the ball and socket, the deltoid muscles are able to provide the action needed to allow shoulder mobility without compromising shoulder stability.

Reverse shoulder replacement has been done in Europe for many years, but has only become an option for patients in the U.S. since 2004.

News Video of Reverse Shoulder Replacement Experience

How to Get the Most Current Shoulder Information

The easiest way is to use your email.  Just sign up here and we’ll send you and email every time we update this blog.  No SPAM … ever….just shoulder rehab and performance information.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: rotator cuff, shoulder replacement

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Shoulder Pain Sucks!

Photo used courtesy of Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq200 0

It drains you, mentally and physically – especially if your particular condition is long term.

• it’s difficult to get quality, restful sleep when every sleeping position is uncomfortable or becomes uncomfortable just about the time you drift into R.E.M. sleep, causing you to jerk awake
• chronic shoulder pain affects almost every movement you make – lifting carrying, reaching pushing, pulling, holding – everyday tasks ( combing your hair or reaching for your wallet ) that you took for granted become impossible or so painful that you avoid them
• this combination of a lack of sleep plus persistent pain condemns you to a lower quality of life than you deserve

Shoulder Replacement is just one option

You have options for dealing with your persistent shoulder pain.  Consult your physician to learn if shoulder replacement is right for you.

Typically, shoulder replacement is performed when a person has developed Osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint.  Though not nearly as popular as knee or hip replacements, shoulder replacement surgery is performed on about 10,000 – 23,000 people per year.  The wide discrepancy depends on the source of your information

Dr. Josh Dines and Dr. Rock Positano have posted an excellent article detailing their results:  Shoulder Arthritis Doesn’t Mean The End Of Sports

Osteoarthritis – What is it?

The short, non-medical answer – the super-slick cartilage that covers the surfaces where bones meet and form a joint, has deteriorated.  This results in bone to bone contact and a great deal of pain and usually affects patients over 60.

A much more medical definition can be found here:  Osteoarthritis ( OA or Degenerative Arthritis )

Two Shoulder Replacement Videos

• Why have a shoulder replacement?
• When is it time for shoulder replacement?
• What happens in shoulder replacement surgery?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shoulder Replacement Part II – Interview with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Stephen Zabinski – This video is almost 4 minutes long and is basically an interview with Dr. Zabinski and the patient who he performed this surgery on.  It was her 2nd shoulder replacement – her recovery is remarkable.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Join our Facebook Community

If you like this post and want more shoulder information, please join our Facebook community.  We post great shoulder information several times a day.  No sales, no SPAM … and sometimes – FREEBIES!!

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, shoulder prosthetic, shoulder replacement, shoulder surgery

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

As you age, shoulder strength and flexibility becomes an issue.

• We are less active and don’t do many of the things that allowed us to move and exercise our joints – especially the shoulder joint
• During middle age, any damaging, repetitive overhead motion begins to take its toll
• If you are active, the chances increase that you’ll participate in some activity that results in a shoulder injury followed by surgery to correct the problem

Here is a short video showing several unique exercises to promote shoulder flexibility and strength.  I’ve seen one of these exercises performed with a sandbag, but have not been able to find the video.  If any of you know what I’m talking about drop me a line and let me know what the link is.

Click here to view the embedded video.

4 Simple things you can do to Improve your Shoulder Mobility

• Keep moving – YES, it may hurt a little, but you gotta move.  The saying, “if you don’t use it, you lose it”, is extremely true with shoulder mobility
• Educate yourself – new treatments, new rehab techniques and new shoulder rehab products for home appear everyday.  Subscribe and get new shoulder info from us when we post anything new.
• Never Give UP!!
• Follow us on Facebook, cause we post more shoulder information on the web than anyone else

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: shoulder exercises, shoulder flexibility, shoulder injury, shoulder stretching

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I first reported on a radical, new technique for repairing shoulder injuries back in Dec of 2007 – Regenexx procedure using stem cells may hold the promise of shoulder repair without surgery  – since then, it has been one of the most popular articles on Shoulder Performance & Rehab.  People with shoulder impingements, rotator cuff damage and other shoulder injuries want answers.

• Can Regenexx help me?
• Is Regenexx safe?
• Is pain involved?
• Is there proof?

Video Answers Questions about Stem Cell Use

Click here to view the embedded video.

Almost every advancement in science is met with resistance – usually because of some kind of misunderstanding or misinformation.  Please watch the following video of Dr. Centeno as he describes what the Regenexx procedure is and how it can help your shoulder or other damaged joint.

Dr. Chris Centeno Explains the Regenexx Procedure

Click here to view the embedded video.

Learn How Regenexx can Help Your Shoulder

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more information about the Regenexx procedure – go to the source.  Dr. Centeno has a website with many videos explaining the procedure.  Also, look for the video testimonials – I think you’ll enjoy the following testimonial as this elderly woman demonstrates her repaired rotator cuff – thanks to Regenexx.

Learn More About Cutting Edge Shoulder Rehab Treatment

Stop searching for shoulder information and let it come to you.  Click this link and we’ll send you an email each time we update this blog.  NO SPAM, just good shoulder information.  Of, you can join our Facebook page and stop by at your leisure.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Regenexx, rotator cuff, shoulder pain, shoulder surgery, stem cells

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

What’s the difference between a sore shoulder and an injured shoulder?

• soreness goes away – the pain related to a shoulder injury lingers and may get worse
• soreness is typically related to the shoulder muscles – a shoulder injury usually impacts the tendons, ligaments or cartilage of the joint

What are some of the things to look for?

• shoulder pain while sleeping – difficulty sleeping
• shoulder weakness
• limited shoulder strength and / or mobility
• inability to perform normal movements
• difficulty reaching overhead
• unusual shoulder pain

Don’t live with constant shoulder pain – see your doctor – get an MRI

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shoulder surgery techniques have come a long way in the past twenty years.  Don’t live with shoulder pain – see your doctor and learn what options you have.

Beat Shoulder Pain with Shoulder Information You Can Count On

The key to overcoming any injury is knowledge.  So, where do you get your shoulder information?  Why don’t you take a minute to visit our Facebook page and explore all the shoulder information we post on a daily basis.  Our community is large, active and helpful … please join us.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: shoulder injury, shoulder pain, shoulder surgery, shoulder symptoms

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh