How to Avoid Rotator Cuff Injuries: Tips from an Orthopedist in Las Vegas, NV

Those who lead an active lifestyle are at risk of sustaining a variety of injuries. From broken bones and sprains to cuts and bruises, you never know what may happen while you are out for a run or playing a game of soccer with a few friends. Should you sustain an injury, you will want to seek medical attention right away, regardless of how minor or major you believe the injury may be.

One of the more common injuries among active people is a rotator cuff injury. When you have a rotator cuff injury and need to visit an orthopedist in Las Vegas, NV, it is important to understand what the rotator cuff is, what type of injury you have sustained and how it can be avoided in the future.

What is the rotator cuff, and what happens when it is injured?

Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles, which include the supraspinatus muscle, the teres minor muscle, the subscapularis muscle and the infraspinatus muscle. These tendons and muscles have the important job of aiding in the movement and stabilization of your shoulder’s joints. They are also responsible for allowing the shoulder to rotate.

When a rotator cuff is injured, it is often a strain or a tear. They are commonly sustained from falls, overuse and gradual degeneration. The degree of these injuries varies, but all can be painful and prevent people from doing the things they love.

How can people avoid rotator cuff injuries?

Rotator cuff injuries can be prevented if people strengthen their rotator cuffs. This can be done by performing low resistance exercises. The reason you want to perform low resistance exercises is that they reduce the chances of an injury being sustained during the workout, while strengthening those small muscles in the area.

Although performing these exercises can help avoid injury, before you even get to them, you want to warm up. Warming up before you engage in strenuous activities or play sports will help with this, because it will condition the area and prepare it for the workout and keep your shoulders from becoming inflamed. Ideally, your warm-up will include a few stretches. In addition to strengthening your rotator cuff and warming up prior to a workout, you should rest, massage and apply warm or hot compresses when you get the chance.

Unfortunately, making an effort to prevent a rotator cuff injury doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t sustain this type of injury. The body can be unpredictable, so you should be careful with your shoulder movements. But this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sports you love.

Rotator cuff injuries may be common, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously. Too many people attempt to treat their injuries themselves and just end up causing further damage because they were wrong about the nature of their injury. If you believe your rotator cuff is injured, it would be best to speak to a medical professional to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Are you searching for an orthopedist in Las Vegas, NV who can help with your rotator cuff injury? Contact Bernard Ong, M.D. today to schedule an appointment.

Categorized in: Orthopedist

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