What is a Torn Rotator Cuff and what to expect after Surgery.

“The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and the related muscles that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow you to raise and rotate your arm. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with three main bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), the collarbone (clavicle), and the shoulder blade (scapula). These bones are held together by muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the joint capsule. The rotator cuff helps keep the ball of the arm bone seated into the socket of the shoulder blade.

Surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff tendon usually involves:

Removing loose fragments of tendon, bursa, and other debris from the space in the shoulder where the rotator cuff moves (debridement).
Making more room for the rotator cuff tendon so it is not pinched or irritated. If needed, this includes shaving bone or removing bone spurs from the point of the shoulder blade (subacromial smoothing).
Sewing the torn edges of the supraspinatus tendon together and to the top of the upper arm bone (humerus).

In open shoulder surgery, a surgeon makes an incision [2 in. (5 cm) to 3 in. (7.6 cm)] in the shoulder to open it and view the shoulder directly while repairing it. A smaller incision can be done with a mini-open procedure that allows the surgeon to reach the affected tendon by splitting the deltoid muscle. This method may reduce your chances of problems from a deltoid injury.

Open-shoulder surgery often requires a short stay in the hospital.

General anesthesia or a nerve block may be used for these types of surgical repair.

Rotator cuff tears can sometimes be repaired with arthroscopic surgery.

Surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff tendon usually involves:

Discomfort after surgery may decrease with taking pain medicines prescribed by your doctor.

The arm will be protected in a sling for a defined period of time, especially when at risk of additional injury.

*Physical therapy after surgery is crucial to a successful recovery. A rehabilitation program may include the following:

As soon as you awake from anesthesia, you may start doing exercises that flex and extend the elbow, wrist, and hand.
The day after surgery, if your doctor allows, passive exercises that move your arm may be done about 3 times a day (a machine or physical therapist may help the joint through its range of motion).
Active exercise (you move your arm yourself) and stretches, with the assistance of a physical therapist, may start 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. This depends on how bad your tear was and how complex the surgical repair was.
Strengthening exercises, beginning with light weights and progressing to heavier weights, can start a few months after surgery.”

Source:

William, B., & Timothy, B. (2011, November 11). Rotator Cuff Repair. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rotator-cuff-repair

Encore Athletes at the AHSAA State Track Meet: May 2-3, 2014

Congratulations to all the team and individual, State Champions at the 2014 AHSAA State Meet last weekend! There was a lot of hard work and dedication put into this season’s track teams and it definitely showed. We are proud to be a sponsor for AHSAA events such as these! We love to see athletes perform their best!

Congratulations to the Hoover High School Men’s and Women’s Track and Field team on their 6A State Championship Title!

Congratulations to the Homewood High School Men’s and Women’s Track and Field team on their 5A State Championship Title!

Congratulations to the UMS-Wright Boys Track and Field Team on their 4A State Championship Title!

Congratulations to Mobile Christian Men’s Track and Field Team on their 2A State Championship Title!

Congratulations to Falkville High School Men’s Track and Field Team on their 1A State Championship!

Classmates, to friends, to Business Partners: The story of Encore Rehabilitation, Inc.

University of South Alabama Graduating Class of 1980

Under the partnership of Paul G. Henderson, PT and Paige B. Plash, PT, Encore Rehab was founded in 1981 and delivers the best rehabilitation services to thousands of patients daily in locations throughout Alabama and Mississippi. Encore Rehab is an employee-focused company with a tremendous team of dedicated and experienced employees who understand the many environments in which a therapist can provide treatment. Through the company’s specialized divisions, Encore Rehab provides rehabilitation services of unsurpassed quality that help patients return to a healthier lifestyle.

2014 Decatur Dragon Boat Races

Dragon Boat Race & Festival

Join us for the Decatur Dragon Boat Race & Festival, May 10th at Point Mallard Aquatic Center Beach! This will be family-friendly, all day event you don’t want to miss! Proceeds go to The Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization providing financial support to the programs and services of Decatur Morgan Hospital.

“Dragon boat racing is the one of the fastest growing sports in the world and the most fun, unique cultural event featuring adrenaline-pumping action. Teams of 20 paddlers, a drummer and steerer race in authentic, 46-foot-long dragon boats. All ages, skill levels and physiques can paddle, making it the ultimate team building sport, requiring synchronicity and finesse, more than power to win.”

So bring your folding chair, a blanket and some sunscreen and enjoy the races! We hope to see you there!

The deadline to register for a dragon boat team is April 28th! Sign up here: http://www.decaturdragonboat.org

PT Tip of the week: Osteoarthritis

Jack Dockery, PT, DPT – Encore Clinic at Tillman’s Corner.

“As a physical therapist, I commonly encounter patients that have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee joint and want to know what they can do to avoid or postpone a total joint replacement. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor that has a direct correlation with the development of knee joint osteoarthritis, being that the knee is a weight bearing joint. A quick and easy means to determine a personal weight problem is the Body Mass Index (BMI). An individual can calculate his/her BMI by dividing their mass in kilograms by their height in meters squared. If this number is greater than 30.0 than that person will fall into the obese category and have a higher risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Exercise is also important in avoiding or postponing a total joint replacement by strengthening the muscles around the joint and normalizing muscle imbalances. Low impact exercises such as aquatics, cycling, walking, and stretching are ideal for an arthritic joint by dissipating less joint force than higher level exercises such as running and jumping. Lastly, when running or jogging an individual should be doing so in appropriate footwear. Most individuals would benefit from a foot orthotic placing the foot in anatomical position and avoid placing other joints in the lower leg at a mechanical disadvantage. A person should change their shoes with an increase in lower leg or back pain and/or breakdown of the midsole.”

Encore Photo Contest Winners!

Encore had a company wide photo contest last week and we wanted to share the beauty of these photos with you! The objective was to capture a landmark that best represents the town the photographer was from.
The winners are as follows:
1) Brett Ferguson, LPTA – Muscle Shoals Bridge

2) Emily Perez, OT – Winter Fountain

3) Beth Farris- Fayette Courthouse

Decatur Encore Athlete of the Month, Madeline Johnson

Congratulations to Madeline Johnson, Senior at Decatur High School. She has been a cheerleader for six years and has been on the Decatur varsity cheerleading team for two years. Madeline is an All American Cheerleader with a UCA staff application. She is also an instructor at southern spirit and a member of their competitive team. Madeline will attend UNA this fall on scholarship.

Ari Hallmark

This post is dedicated to the beautiful Ari Hallmark, a survivor of the April 27th tornado in Ruth. Both her parents, grandparents and a cousin were killed in the tornado, and they found Ari 200 yard from where she was before the storm. She has written a book about her experience called, “ To Heaven After the Storm“. Tomorrow, Ari will be riding in the Bo Bikes Bama, on the bike Bo Jackson gave her. We support team Ari!!

ATC Tip of the week: Hydrogen peroxide vs Alcohol

“Hydrogen peroxide should be used to debride a cut or scratch as soon as the injury occurs, and never again. Alcohol can be used to clean the wound the days following injury.

Hydrogen peroxide eats away cells and tissue to debride the injury. If used continuously it slows down healing time due to the damage it does to the new tissue being made to heal the wound.”

– Robert Milam M.Ed., A.T.C./L, Spanish Fort High School.

Cullman Encore Athlete of the Month, Isaac Hardin

Congratulations to Isaac Hardin for being chosen as the Cullman Encore Athlete of the Month! Isaac is a Junior and plays baseball and football for Hanceville High School. He is the catcher and pitcher for the varsity baseball team, and plays center and middle linebacker for the varsity football team. Isaac has had a good baseball career with batting average of .352, 4 home runs, and 38RBIs. He would like to attend UAB after high school and play for the college baseball team. Good Luck Isaac!