Can I heal my torn ROTATOR CUFF? 

Short and down to the point, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for making this video!

I fell on my shoulder years ago, and broke my collar bone. Never got the help I needed, and have injured it further since. Some times more pain, and sometimes less. Right now, because of pts like you, I'm understanding what's going on, and what I can do. So much better. It may never be totally right, but I might get by with exercises and self treatment. Thank you so much.

Amazing! The best explanation on this topic around! Short, comprehensive and simple. Thx.

Just a hunch, but I imagine stress would close the subacromial space too. Pressing one's elbow on a chair arm-rest would seemingly close the space as well. Story: About 4-5 years ago a sales rep told me he had an operation to repair a rotator cuff due to weight lifting. I remember the conversation, because I experience some pain in my shoulder as well as the infraspinatus of the clavicle. Just now I experimented stretching my arm downward and I sensed a bit of relief. Based on my experimenting just now, this type of physical therapy seems legitimate. What I always remember about the sales rep was that he said the rotator cuff can heal by itself. My personal belief is that if you can avoid the knife DO SO.

This is such a wonderful video. I have this and I am preparing to start looking for a good PT to help me!

Your video gives me hope. What's the name of the treatment/manipulation/manual technique that I should ask a physical therapist to do to increase the subacrominal space? Thanks.

The best explanation and the best exercises

Thanks for this video. Well explained.

Great Video

I have a similar case as istra here. Pain comes from the back of the shoulder and whenever I do bench press or overhead shoulder workouts there's the clicks and pain hurts like stain. I initially hurt my shoulder doing bench press.. And that was already 6 yrs ago. Went to a few physicians and trainers and none could identify and provide me with a solution. I'll be grateful for any more tips I really want it fixed and not have it haunt me later down the road.. Thanks!!!

thanks for sharing this video. your visual the drawing of the rotator cuff is helpful. i am learning about this part of the body and working on exercises to get my full range of motion back. the physio hurts but i do my home exercises and i can feel some changes. thank you.

Thanks this helped me 4 years ago and now it’s the other side.

Thank you, you're videos are a great help. Especially because i'm a PT student at the moment.

thank you

thanks for the info. I visited my doc. today and also had x-rays done; and based on his evaluation, he said it seemed like a pinched nerve due to "not so good" posture and bad sleeping position. Hopefully it's not too serious but anyways thank you!

Thank you so much for all the Information, thats was so useful. keep up Doc.

very good job at explaining thanks

Good Video , Ive had an ongoing problem for quite a while , pain in the Rotator cuff area after weights sessions , and tendonitis , Last month or two it got worse , I rested it for a while , but the pain is still around , doctor told me I should look into a Cortisone shot , the guy that gave the shot under ultrasound a week ago told me I have a small tear . But said they dont repair and I may need surgery . I have not had any other opinions yet , but going by your video and reading the comments here , I may be ok with treatment ?

My husband had the same thing with weakness and minimal pain. We thought it was rotator cuff tear too. After he had the EMG test, it turned out to be neck disc impinging the nerves to the shoulder. After the MRI, it was discovered the disc was rubbing on disc. He had an insertion of small round cadaver bone placed inbetween the discs and now he can move his arm without any weakness. Explore that possibility. In order to have the procedure, weakness and pain is the criteria.

I hope you can help me with my shoulder problem. Recently, I've been doing calisthenics, and after a month of it, I started doing wall-pushups specifically for a week. During the time, I use to sleep on my arms/ and at times in an abducted position. Soon, i started to notice a sensation that my right shoulder felt somewhat lower and imbalanced compared to the left, which felt perfectly stable. The right shoulder-joint area feels weird around the deltoids and the muscles connecting to the chest

Slight shoulder pain started appx 5 years ago while bench pressing, However, 2 yrs ago I was throwing a ball and started feeling extreme sharp pain in my shoulder and forearm. Went to an orthepedic surgeon got an MRI it revealed no tears to my RC. He gave me a cortizone shot in my forearm and shoulder. The forearm pain went away but the shoulder pain remains. I can dig down and and feel the inflammed muscle / tendon below the cluster of muscles that connects the top of my shoulder to my arm.

thank u.great video and very informative

Thank you so much I loved it

I really like your videos I tore my rotator cuff and I'm trying to avoid surgery..thanx for the tips👍

thank you for your input - I will question my PT guy when next I see him. Been going twice a week for the last two and a half weeks. Might even carefully ask about my thoracic outlet as a possibility :) He isn't of the opinion that my thumb pain is of any consequence, but I have to say - hurts like the dickens anyway. Appreciate the options you've provided - now at least I have a direction to go with this!

Can you show what those techniques are used by therapists and what exercises I can perform.

This video is highly informative. Thank you.

On my 5th week back with weights seeing great gains muscle memory is awesome I'm actually almost back to where I was 5 months ago and only hit chest once but shoulder feels good been really working out the back rear delts side delts of course arms & legs then hit chest and feeling good. My injury is more of a muscle tightness & nerves little pinched I'm still stYing away from a few lifts like not doing presses over head but I don't need to hell u hit shoulders all the time I'm at the good sore level now

Good information.....I just started shock wave therapy for my two tears. It has helped. I’m hoping with the therapy and physical therapy I will be able to avoid surgery. I pray for a miraculous healing everyday 🙏🏻✝️❤️

Great video. I think I may have torn mine.

Thanks for the quick response! I will do that.

Do you have an opinion/good rehab techniques for a revers bankart lesion? I've had it for a few years and surgery is currently out of the question. It causes me a lot of discomfort in my shoulder and arm, any help would be greatly appreciated!!

A really good massage therapist with advanced training and experience can also help this injury, as I've done it with many myself. In other videos with PTs and orthorpedic surgeons state pointedly that any tear to the rotator cuff will not heal because it's not designed to do so. Thanks for stating a person can heal their RC tear, unless it's a severe tear. According to statistics worldwide, many rotator cuff surgeries fail, so I am happy to hear your version & I totally agree! {:D

what kind of exercises would you recommend doing to strengthening that area of weakness?

My injury prevents me from lifting weights, throwing or push ups can i rehab my shoulder to do these things again?

Thanks! I really appreciate it. hope others could learn as well.

Hi, my rotator cuff does hurt when i do the things u talked about, reaching overhead, driving etc. i also feel a pull when i turn my head to the right (injuried shoulder). sometimes i can feel it pull from behind my right ear, through my right trapezius, through the shoulder and further down my ribcage/lats. it is even visible in my neck, it looks like a tendon pushing through/out to the side. my neck is actually giving me more problems in daily life than the shoulder.

Amazing info that gives us hope. Than you so Much!

If the studies show that I have the supraspinatus tendon broken by 1cm of the rotator cuff, is it possible that It can be healed with therapies and exercises? or I should necessary have a surgery?

I've recently been diagnosed with impingement rotary cuff tendinitis also had a Ultra scan etc! After exercising the pain just seems to get worse. My painful arm started after l had a Covid jab over six months ago. Could you suggest other ways of relieving my pain. Would an X ray or MRI scan have a better view of what's going on inside my shoulder/arm.

Hi! Could you show us or refer to specific exercises we can do at home to open up the space between the two bones? I can't really afford to see a physical therapist but I can do exercises. Thank you very much!

Is doing wall slides three times a day everyday of the week over kill? or is it ok to do some with impingement?

Dr, can you kindly prescribe some medicines for these kind of symptoms, pls. I have this issue since few months. Underwent x-ray, MRI & also eventually physiotherapy for a week. Ofcourse took medicines too. But yet no effect but for expenditure I had.. So kly help for the people like me plssss🙏🙏

I have a full thickness near complete width tear of my right rotator cuff. I've had 4 PT treatments which consists of stretching only. Wrist curls, tilting my neck from side to side and back to front, dangling my arm from side to side with rotation, shoulder blade squeezing. Manual manipulation from the physical therapist with a bend elbow extended straight, outward and above my head rotation. The exercises are brutal and the following days I'm in so much pain that I don't want to return for next appointment. The orthopedic Surgeon has recommended PT for 6 to 8 weeks if the pain does not improve then surgery. I'm a 65 yr. old woman. Any recommendations? Thank you

Spent last few hours looking at videos & stretching.It hurts on top-outside shoulder exactly under acromium with "behind back" stretch. The hurt feels good & it stretches out. However, there is pain & 15 deg limitation on internal & ext rotation at any position & I can see that scapula move more for any arm position relative to unaffected side, so it seems like adhesive capsulitis, except I can raise arm almost vertically, w/ pain. Strength everywhere is good. Stretch int & ext rot = no change

I have partial thickness tear in supraspinatus ligament. Can i heal it naturally

I have been playing baseball nonstop for about 2 months, what do you suggest I do.

Thanks for this excellent video - i don't really condone self-diagnosis but it certainly helps to educate oneself!

I tripped going up the stairs last week and I went to catch myself on a stair but my fingers brushed past the step I was going for and fell to the lower step. My arm buckled underneath me and bent in a weird way. it feels better now but not 100% still some pain in the front of the shoulder

Saw doctor. Apparently my shoulder X-ray was fine. He wants to order an MRI next & some blood work. This video gives me hope that whatever is wrong with my shoulder can be repaired without surgery. My concern is that if I don't get treatment soon, it will worsen the problem. It's been three weeks. Sleeping, dressing, brushing my hair or teeth, cooking, doing dishes, driving, and so on, all are very painful. I'm older so maybe I've just worn it out. I don't know what happened to it.

I had a shoulder surgery bankart repair in 2012 arthroscopic surgery, was all fine till now good strength. But to my bad luck few weeks ago I again had a shoulder dislocated even after surgery. Can this occur again? Doc said to be in sling and do physiotherapy. Pls experts need your suggestion in my situation :(

last month i had complete shoulder ligament trear, and doctors suggested surgery, can my problem can be treated without surgery ? i cant lift my arm . please reply

thank you for the good info , so what is those techniques ? and can I do it alone ? please advice I had a dislocated shoulder 6 month ago , and I fear when I use my hand in some ways.

I have had soreness and a small twinge around where my side deltoid and arm meet when putting my arm in certain positions. This has been going on for 2 weeks. I did this while taking off my jacket really fast during a musical performance. Can this cause a tear in the rotator cuff?

Thank you very much...But do you think its worth doing any PT for now just to see if it works? The exercises I've seen online don't bother me to do, there is no pain.

I did the same year of the injury, I wasn't in my country, I was in a foreign country.. so the foreign doctor said I had tendonitis. 5 years later my shoulder still suffers from popping thus bringing pain, and I try to stretch it, and my left shoulder just hurts right near at the Bursa area. I do workout with it and do use resistant bands for lifting and resistance for my shoulder. It hurts most when I straighten my elbow and do the resistance exercise, it hurts and my shoulder gives out smetims

Hi, I feel exactly what you described on this video and this is my 6 weeks of therapy. My pain during the day is 50% less but more when I go to bed 100% + ( I am a back sleeper ) but the pain will not let me sleep. Do you think after long therapy and after wile if I healed, I will be able to workout again? Or something like this even the person healed NOT allow to workout anymore? Thank you so much for your video.

Thanks for your answer :) I'll let the healing process do it's job !

Thanks for the information. In my case the pain raises when I try bench press. I would appreciate if you can provide some details in my case.

Hey Madden PT I hurt my shoulder bench pressing i did my max about 8 times in one day. I think its my rotater cuff but not sure what do you think i should do? Every one says its a common injury when you bench press alot.

That's made my injury really clear now thank you. I'm a martial artist with a background in boxing and javelin and a slight build so I've hammed my shoulders over the years. I'll be taking your advice and also visiting a physio.

I have an assignment about rotator cuff tendopathy (RCT), while I am searching, I am confused between impingement syndrome (IS) and the RCT, are they related and connected? the RCT is caused by IS, is that correct? and Please if you can explain the key intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for rotator cuff tendinopathies in biomechanics

Sorry if this was already asked but any suggestions for type/brand of band to purchase?

Hi, all things should said I have. lack of movement up, side, front etc ... but no pain what can be the problem?

I was doing chest press with 60lb dumbells and my right shoulder pretty much gave out. Neck's not tight when I turn it to the right (injured shoulder) but i do feel a pull around my trap/neck when i turn to the left. Also that area cramps up when I run. Yes I am a side sleeper, and no my PT really just massages the area and goes over how im doing the exercises.

This video has given me hope. Thank you!

what's the difference between a Torn Rotator Cuff and Tendonitis? thank you

This guy is on point on everything!!!! Omg

Hi my MRI shows Thick tear for 1cm. Doc suggest surgery. Can I avoid surgery

where do you work dear i want to visit for my shoulder. i feel like you are talking about the same issue i have

Ok I found the pdf with the exercises but I would still like to read your opinion on which is the most likely injury that affects me, thanks

I have 7 chiropractor session for this, still not able to fix it. Is there something I can do it home. Thank you!!

Hi there, i've had this injury for nearly 2 years or so, i train alot with calisthenics and martial arts and i guess i must have done something a while back, the symptoms i have and today i must have slept on my right shoulder funny, i have a locked sternum and usually i can pop it back into place but today its sore on the right side and it wont click fully, i guess its inflamed. When i move my head to the left i feel a pull on my right back which is slightly painful coming from under my scapula

hey.... i had a injury in my shoulder while playing... the doctors said that i had a slight muscle tear on the cushioning muscle in the shoulder. is there anything you can help me with.?

Sir during gym my shoulder go back and a pop sound I hear after that. I have pain in my shoulder and what I do

I got the pain after doing Dumbbell Presses for chest at high repetitions. I got full range of motion but the bony area where my collar bone and shoulder meet feels like an annoying tooth ache. Any suggestions?

So my rotator cuff been hurting me for 4 months now do you know if I need surgery??

Good explanation

Fell on my shoulder while skiing, hurt when it happened and my shoulder was swollen for 4 days, and it hurt to move my arm up, straight out, or to the side, all at a certain extent. And I couldn't pick up anything heavy. Now it is 10 days since it happened and there's no swelling, the front of my shoulder into the top of my right peck is yellow from healing broken blood vessels, but I feel a slight tightness in my shoulder when I'm not moving it, and I feel a slight pain now when I lift my arm up. It hurts also when I take my shirt off over my head. To test the pain I found that it hurts when I hold my right hand with my left hand and try to pull both hands apart. The pain is in the top of my shoulder up to my collarbone, and i feel pressure in the back of my shoulder. Is this where a rotator cuff injury would be? I just want to know what I did to my damn shoulder lol

What if once in a while your shoulder or torn rotator cuff makes a pop sound? As mine does

I was doing the ab wheel recently when in full entension felt my shoulder give out. I have had discomfort since and at times it has been painful. I don't have health insurance so I can't go to a doctor or PT, so I have been trying to figure out what my injury is - At first I thought a deltoid strain but now I believe it to be the rotator cuff. I can still do pushups, and bicep curls but can't do the wheel or shoulder presses. Been using Ben Gay, ice & Alieve. Is it ok for me to continue lifting?

Hi. I'd like to ask you a question about my shoulder and my rotator cuff « injury » / « inflammation ». I never had any shoulder or rotator cuff injury/inflammation in the past before. 3 days ago, I went to the gym and did my usual set of Pec Deck. I stretched a little bit too much during my set and after I had an unusual pain in my left shoulder. The pain is slowly going away, but when I do specific movement ( like the pec deck movement ), I can hear some noise in my shoulder ( cric/crac )

I too have the same pain. Been a while. ried PT and cortisone. Minimal relief. Two MRIs . one says subscap tear 4mm and solid labrum. the other said labrum tear and solid sub scap. I will try your suggestions. I was leaning toward scoping the shoulder. I only goto sports docs because i am big guy. and normal ROM tests dont indicate as im strong as hell. the most pain is when hand on opposite shoulder and i raise the elbow up. stars

I did the empty can, hawkins and I can't remember the other one... my rotator cup starting hurting 30 minutes ago... when I move it my forearm aches.. is this temporary or do i need help?

I was using a resistance band when my injury occurred. I am feeling pain not only in my shoulder but my arm. My forearm throbs in pain and a painfil pins and needles sensation sometimes travelling to my fingers. I also experience pain in my lower back of the shoulder blade. I saw my doctor yesterday and I received a 5 minute (or less) diagnosis of an injured rotater cuff along RX for tylenol3. Any recommendations besides getting a new doctor (which I am going to do)?

i have a anterior rotor cuff tear. i have had 2 injections. i have been doing physical therpy sometimes i think it is doing pretty good then other days the pain is so intense i cant sleep at night. what else can i do?

I too have the pain when throwing a baseball, I pitched from around the age of 8 to 17 then stopped for 10 years. Once I started again the pain didnt come right away but about the 3rd game in it did, without any pitching, just normal throwing to get my arm back in shape. It only hurts when making a throwing motion and if I lift my arm over my head. Should I stop throwing all together or will the correct stretches/exercises work?

*You can try programs like the one in **_Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff_** at Amazon - some can be pretty effective.*

is it a full tear if your arm dislocates abit while sleeping in that position you showed? at times i'll wake up with my arm asleep also but it hasn't happened since summer ene

I have a tear in the suprapinatus and need surgery but because I suffer from blood clots in the brain, the surgery is risky as I might end up with a stroke. Only solution is physiotherapy. I'm in so much pain. Will this help?

About 6 weeks ago doing Zottman curls I had a HORRIBLE sound in my left shoulder - an MRI showed it to be a "...high grade near full tear in the supraspinatus...". 2 days later I had zero pain - but STUPIDLY I was training my WSL Wung Chun strikes on a bag an AAAAAARGH - nasty pain in the left shoulder. Anyway - cut a long story short - I have continued weight training but stopped Zottman curls or any overhead exercises or any movement that causes a pain (and no strikes as extending my near full length is both difficult and can be painful) - in 'theory' if I stay away from those exercises that hurt - am I reasonably safe to continue my gym work? Any 'all care - no responsibility' suggestiosn welcome. Thanks.

I hope you can give me some advice. i injured myself lifting weights like in december of last year. i still have pain when i workout. when i injured myself my arm was pulled backwards and when i stood up. my shoulder was popping out and i decided to put it back in place. tomorrow i will stop lifting weights and boxing. and see if acupuncture will help. hope to hear back from you.

Can't find exercises for this problem in any of your videos

just went to the site and couldn't find the videos. Could you post a link? Thanks very much.

Thank you for this useful information

Hi i have a rotator cuff tear in my shoulder now over 2 years just had an ABI Autologous Blood Injection to help with the healing any one else tryed this before

My MRI shows a 90% tear and labral fraying. My doctor said I can try PT but I will probably need surgery in the future. My main pain is sleeping on my right side. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance and I really appreciate your video.

and back region. I also noticed that when I turned or rotated my right shoulder away, it makes a crackling sound. And finally I feel tension in my neck muscle/area connected to the right shoulder. There isn't any pain but this weird, imbalanced and lowered sensation of my right shoulder. Are these symptoms of a serious injury? And if yes, is there an approach to heal it?

I am 16 and messed my shoulder by trying to land double front on my trampoline and opened up and after first front and the landed on the metal bars of the trampoline and killed me it was the worst pain ever I can barley move my shoulder and have serious problems and it's only been 2 days this sucks

I have been having shoulder pain while throwing a baseball, in the Acromion and Bursa areas. The pain only acts up when I make a throwing motion. Sometimes with a heating pad put on before throwing the pain takes longer to arrive or not at all. Sometimes I can get 25 throws in with no issue, sometimes the 2nd ball I throw in the day starts the pain. I have never pitched and only throw now about once a week for softball. Could rotator cuff exercises help/ fix it?