6 Tips to Avoid Rotator Cuff Injuries

a) Avoid repetitive over headed activities.

b) Avoid prolonged, sustained overhead activity.

c) Warm up slowly if you are planning to do activities that require shoulder motion (e.g. golf, tennis, weight lifting, etc)

d) If an exercise or activity causes shoulder pain, stop.

e) If planning to increase frequency, duration, intensity or weight with overhead activity, do so in slow increments.

f) Keep your muscles of your shoulder (i.e. rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers) strong and healthy with low-weight exercises

Treatment of patients with Large Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears

Dr. Fitzpatrick specializes in advance treatments of shoulder injuries.  Until recently, there have been limited options for patients with large, irreparable rotator cuff tears.   New advances in reconstruction techniques called Superior Capsular Reconstructions are one such option.  Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasties are another.  Contact our office if you would like to set up an appointment to be evaluated.

More positive proof of the beneficial effects of PRP and Stem Cells

Efficacy of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. (Click link for full article)

In patients with symptomatic knee OA, PRP injection results in significant clinical improvements up to 12 months post injection. Clinical outcomes and WOMAC scores are significantly better after PRP versus HA at 3 to 12 months post injection. There is limited evidence for comparing leukocyte-rich versus leukocyte-poor PRP or PRP versus steroids in this study.

Positive effect of an autologous platelet concentrate in lateral epicondylitis in a double-blind randomized controlled trial: platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroid injection with a 1-year follow-up. (Click link for full article)

Treatment of patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis with PRP reduces pain and significantly increases function, exceeding the effect of corticosteroid injection. Future decisions for application of the PRP for lateral epicondylitis should be confirmed by further follow-up from this trial and should take into account possible costs and harms as well as benefits.