Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) for Rotator Cuff Tear: How it Helps Relieve Pain and Improve Mobility
Rotator cuff tear is a common musculoskeletal injury that can result from overuse, aging, or a sudden injury. It can cause severe pain, weakness, and limited mobility in the affected shoulder. While full-thickness tears may require surgery, Registered Massage Therapy can be an effective treatment option for partial rotator cuff tears. In this article, we will discuss how RMT treatment can help alleviate pain and improve mobility for patients with rotator cuff tears.
Understanding Rotator Cuff Tear
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and keep the upper arm bone in the socket. A rotator cuff tear can be partial or full-thickness. A partial tear happens when one of the rotator cuff tendons is damaged but not completely torn, while a full-thickness tear occurs when the tendon is completely torn. Full-thickness tears are more severe and often require surgery to repair.
Treating Rotator Cuff Tear with Registered Massage Therapy
RMT treatment involves hands-on techniques to manipulate soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. For partial rotator cuff tears, treatment can improve circulation to the affected area, promote healing, and reduce inflammation. RMT treatment can also loosen tight muscles and tendons in the shoulder, alleviating pain and improving range of motion.
During a Massage Therapy session for a rotator cuff tear, the therapist will use deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and exercises and stretches to help maintain and improve the range of motion of the shoulder.
The Benefits of Registered Massage Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tear
Pain Relief
RMT is effective for pain relief in patients with rotator cuff tears. The massage therapist will use deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy to manipulate the soft tissues of the affected shoulder. These techniques can help to reduce pain and inflammation in the area.
Deep tissue massage uses firm pressure and slow strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This can alleviate muscle tension and reduce pain. Myofascial release involves gentle sustained pressure to the connective tissue to release tension and reduce pain. This technique can also improve circulation to the area, promoting healing and reducing inflammation. Trigger point therapy applies pressure to specific trigger points in the muscle to relieve pain and improve range of motion. This technique can reduce muscle tension and increase blood flow to the affected area, promoting healing. The massage therapist may also recommend heat or cold therapy to further reduce pain and inflammation.
Improved Range of Motion
Registered Massage Therapy treatment can improve the range of motion in patients with rotator cuff tears by releasing tension in the soft tissues around the shoulder joint. The massage therapist will use various techniques, including deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy, to manipulate the soft tissues, increase flexibility, and improve range of motion.
Deep tissue massage reaches deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue with firm pressure and slow strokes. This technique can release tension and increase flexibility in the affected area. Myofascial release involves gentle sustained pressure to the connective tissue to release tension and improve the range of motion. Trigger point therapy applies pressure to specific trigger points in the muscle to relieve pain and improve range of motion.
In conclusion, Registered Massage Therapy can be an effective treatment option for pain relief and improved mobility in patients with partial rotator cuff tears. With a combination of hands-on techniques, exercises, and stretches, massage therapists can help patients recover and return to their normal activities.
