Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injury

• Shoulder pain, often worse at night

• Pain when lifting or moving the arm backward

• Shoulder weakness and stiffness

• Clicking or popping sounds during shoulder movement

Goals of Physiotherapy

• Reduce pain and inflammation

• Restore full range of motion of the shoulder

• Strengthen rotator cuff and scapular muscles

• Safely resume daily and sports activities

Physiotherapy Treatments

1. Pain Relief Techniques

• Cold Therapy: Reduces acute pain and inflammation

• Heat Therapy: Relaxes muscles and improves blood circulation

• TENS Therapy: Provides pain relief and muscle stimulation

2. Range of Motion and Stretching Exercises

• Pendulum Exercises: Gentle shoulder movement

• Passive & Active-Assisted ROM: Reduces shoulder stiffness

• Cross-Body Stretch: Improves posterior shoulder flexibility

3. Strengthening Exercises

Once pain is under control:

• Rotator Cuff Strengthening: Internal and external rotation exercises

• Scapular Stabilization: Strengthens shoulder blade muscles

• TheraBand Exercises: Progressive resistance training

4. Manual Therapy and Joint Mobilization

• Soft tissue mobilization to reduce muscle tightness

• Shoulder joint mobilization to improve range of motion

5. Postural Correction and Functional Training

• Correction of rounded shoulder posture to reduce shoulder stress

• Safe movement training for overhead activities

Frequency and Duration

• Physiotherapy sessions recommended 2–4 times per week

• Home exercise program is essential for recovery

• Significant improvement can be seen in 6–12 weeks