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

Are YOU Allowing YOUR Child to Injure Their Shoulders & Elbows?

Could you be to blame if your child injures their shoulder or elbow?  That answer could be YES … IF YOU’RE not paying attention to the numbers.

It’s Called Pitch Count – How Much is Your Child Throwing?

Dr. James Andrews, the “go to” shoulder surgeon for professional athletes speaks out on the increase of shoulder and elbow injuries he’s seeing in young athletes.  Here are some things Dr. Andrews notes in the video:

• the #1 risk factor is fatigue – throwing while fatigued increases risk of shoulder / elbow injury 36:1
• the problem is most amateur coaches don’t know when a young athlete is fatigued
• signs of fatigue – drop in velocity, loss of control, high number of pitches thrown
• use pitch count to avoid fatigue
• avoid / prevent playing year-round baseball

Click here to view the embedded video.

As a parent or coach here are some things to take away from this video:

• Dr. Andrews has seen a 5 fold increase in shoulder / elbow surgeries in young athletes since 2000!
• Limit the number of pitches thrown
• Don’t allow your child to play ball year round
• Don’t allow your child to play in multiple leagues at the same time

Get Shoulder Rehab and Performance in Your Email

If you want the latest shoulder information, shoulder research, shoulder videos and more, then sign up today.  No SPAM, No JUNK … Just shoulder info you need.

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

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Don't let your age stop you from competing!

Aging doesn’t have to be your excuse

Here’s a great story about Dawn Kirklen who began playing golf at the age of 50.  Now, at 89, she still plays twice a week. (NOTE:  When I first published this blog article, this story about Dawn Kirklen was freely available…not anymore.  The website that posted it is now a “Pay-Per-View” or subscription website).

Shoulder surgery doesn’t stop this golfer

Dawn has had four surgeries since 2000:

• two hip replacements
• back surgery
• shoulder surgery

Also, she is scheducled to have cataract surgery in January and hopes to play in a tournament in March.

What’s your excuse?

Daily exercise is one of the keys for living a long, fulfilled and productive life.  We all know it, but seldom do anything about it.

As the new year starts, why not make it a priority to enjoy your senior years by following an exercise program.  As Dawn Kirklen has proved, its never too late to start.

photo credit – AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

Shoulder Surgery?  Shoulder Rehab is a Necessity

If you’ve had any kind of shoulder surgery, then you know how important shoulder rehabilitation is.  But what happens after your rehab prescription runs out?  Or, you don’t have insurance to pay for your shoulder rehab?

Good questions.  Maybe you should check out the Rotater .. shoulder rehab / prehab tool designed to duplicate many of the stretches your physical therapist will perform during your rehab.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: exercise, Golf, shoulder surgery

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

During the holidays, we get to spend time with visiting relatives.  Often, it’s the only time we get to see them all year.  My sister always comes home to Alabama to visit our parents for Christmas.  During her stay this time, she asked me how the Rotater business was doing and was excited to hear that:

• 5 NFL teams are using the Rotater
• we just sent a large order to the US Navy SEALS
• we recently met Donald Trump

MRI Results – SLAP Tear!

Suzan (my sister) asked me what a SLAP tear was and if the Rotater would help her.  I had posted an article about SLAP tears back in September, so I pulled it up on the web and discovered the video I had posted was no longer available – it was a great video, too.  I have yet to find a suitable replacement.

SLAP Tear

Anyway, to make a long story shorter, Suzan had an MRI done just prior to coming home for Christmas and it revealed that she had a SLAP tear.  That doesn’t really surprise me.  She is a life-long athlete who went to college on a basketball scholarship, played competitive softball into her 30′s and has trained with weights for the last 20 years.

Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior Tear

- what does that mean?  If you’ll look at the picture to the above, you’ll see an image of a shoulder ( without the upper arm ).  The oblong structure labelled “GLENOID LIG.” is where the ball of your upper arm would be.  It is maintained in that position by the rotator cuff ( not shown ).

Notice the BICEPS ligament attaches at the top of and to the GLENOID LIG. A SLAP tear occurs when there is a separation of the GLENOID LIGAMENT in front of the BICEPS LIGAMENT (anterior) and behind the BICEPS LIGAMENT (posterior) – if you draw a line from one blue arrow to the other and imagine peeling the GLENOID LIGAMENT away from the bony structure of the GLENOID FOSSA, you would will have a SLAP tear.

Symptoms of a SLAP tear

• A dull throbbing ache in the joint.  This can be brought on by very strenuous exertion or simple household chores. Sufferers notice that they turn to ice packs more frequently for relief.
• Difficulty sleeping due to shoulder discomfort. The SLAP lesion decreases the stability of the joint which when combined with lying in bed causes the shoulder to drop. This in turn pulls on the muscles and ligaments causing discomfort.
• For an athlete involved in a throwing sport such as baseball, pain and a catching feeling are prevalent.
• Any applied force overhead or pushing directly into the shoulder can result in impingement and catching sensations.

Community of SLAP tear sufferers

slaptear.com is an interactive website that offers extensive and easy-to-understand information – usually from the patients point of view.  It’s worth a visit.

The Real Scientific Explanation of SLAP tears

Mike Reinold, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS, is considered one of the top experts in the fields of physical rehabilitation and sports medicine.  Mike has written several very good articles about SLAP tears.  If you want the compete 411, then take a look at the following articles by Mike:

• What Exactly Is a SLAP Lesion? Top 5 Things You Need to Know About a Superior Labral Tear
• Mechanisms of Injury to the Superior Labrum

How to test for a SLAP tear – a video by Mike Reinold

Click here to view the embedded video.

Will the Rotater help if you have a SLAP tear?

The answer is a qualified no!  The tear must be surgically reattached and allowed to fuse / grow together.  However, after surgery and when you doctor releases you to begin physical therapy, then the Rotater can be instrumental in helping you to regain your range of motion.

Facebook for Shoulder Information

Join other people just like you … people who want to know the latest shoulder rehab and performance information.  Visit our Facebook page for the most current shoulder information and videos.

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: physical therapy, shoulder, shoulder surgery, SLAP tear, the Rotater

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

What is a Protocol?

It is an official procedure, set of rules or method that define how something is to be done.  A good protocol is developed after extensive research and experimentation.

Therefore a shoulder rehab protocol should be:

• extensively researched
• based on repeated observations
• tested
• documented
• monitored and retested as new information and techniques arise

Rotator Cuff Rehab Protocol

Recently I came across a blog post entitled – Rehabilitation Protocol Following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair by Mike Reinold.  So, who is this guy?

Mike Reinold - Shoulder Rehab Expert

• the Rehabilitation Coordinator & Assistant Athletic Trainer of the 2007 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION Boston Red Sox Baseball Club
• the Coordinator of Rehabilitation Research and Education of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine Division, of Massachusetts General Hospital at the new MGH Sports Center in Boston, MA
• was formerly the Facility Director of Champion Sports Medicine and the Coordinator of Rehabilitative Research & Clinical Education at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, AL – where he worked with renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, M.D. and rehab guru Kevin Wilk, PT, DPT

There is much more listed on his “About Me” page, but I think this is more than enough to establish his credibility.

Rotator Cuff Surgery is Common

Shoulder injuries are common – especially those involving the rotator cuff.  Although we often associate rotator cuff damage with athletics, the fact is that most rotator cuff injuries are the result of two factors:

• repetitive motion
• age

As the baby boomers age, rotator cuff injuries become more common.  The point is – THERE ARE ESTABLISHED METHODS that have been developed to rehabilitate your shoulder following surgery.  Mike’s article deals specifically with arthroscopic rotater cuff repair.  Do you know:

• the 6 Goals of Rehabilitation Following Rotator Cuff Repair?
• the 3 Most Important Keys to Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilitation?

Be proactive, become involved in your shoulder rehabilitation – read Mikes article and discover the answer to these questions and much more.

Note to Subscribers and Regular Readers

It has been some time since my last posting and I apologize about that.  My PC crashed for the last time.  That’s right – I’m now a Mac convert.  The learning curve has not been nearly as steep as I expected, but I lost everything on two hard drives – yes, one was the back up.

Anyway, I’m rebuilding as many of my files as I can.  A lot of stuff was stored online, some on zip drives and some on my external hard drive.  It’s good to return to a regular posting schedule.

Facebook and Twitter Users

Did you know you can get mega amounts of shoulder information by following us online?  It’s simple:

• Facebook users, click here
• Twitter fans, follow us here

© rotater for Shoulder Rehab & Performance, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: arthroscopic surgery, protocol, rotator cuff, shoulder injury, shoulder rehab

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

Stastics Don’t Lie

We don’t think it will happen to us – but it’s got to happen to someone – that’s just the way it is – statistics don’t lie.

Statistics Don't Lie

A study led by Dr. Steven B. Cohen, assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies and reported on the website Science Daily, revealed the following:

• 45% of baseball players who have shoulder or elbow surgery were able to return to their previous level or higher
• players who had elbow surgery were more likely to reach their previous level of play or higher than players who had shoulder surgery
• for AA, AAA or major league players, only 18% were able to make the comeback

Prevention is the Key to Long-Term Success

The study was also reported on in the Tucson Citizen, where Cohen and co-author of the study, Dr. Gerard Varlotta said, “stretching and strengthening exercises are key for preventing injuries in professional – and recreational – players.”

Take the time to warm-up and cool-down, stretch and strengthen your shoulder.  It could make all the difference for you and your shoulder.

Shoulder Information via Your Email and More

Searching for shoulder rehab and performance information can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.  Where do you start?  Who do you trust?  If you liked this post or others on our website, why not get our latest articles sent directly to your email?  No spam, ever…just shoulder rehabilitation and performance information / videos.  OR…you could join our very active community on Facebook.  Or, you could do both.

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

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh