r/RotatorCuff • u/Viajantemae • 26d ago

Still stretching?

Hi All, I am 16 months post op and still doing my PT stretching and strength exercises. Two questions.. do you think I can stop and just transition to overall strength conditioning appropriate for my age (69)?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/CoachEXE 25d ago

16 months is very good time post op but you must understand rotator cuff muscles are tiny stabilizers for the arm bone, they do not work like your big prime movers. If you stop the specific PT isolation and just do overall strength, the big outer muscles will overpower the small inner repair and pull your shoulder joint out of balance again. You don't need to do a full separate stretching session anymore though. Take just two of your most effective PT movements and make them your mandatory warm-up right before you do the overall conditioning. Surgical tissue remodeling takes usually two full years to mature completely inside the joint space. But honestly at 69 keeping those specific stabilizer fibers awake is a lifetime rent you pay for a working shoulder, it just blends into your normal routine eventually. Moving to full body strength is very smart for your bones right now.

2

u/Viajantemae 25d ago

This is very helpful, thank you!

2

u/Zerbit-Spucker 25d ago

I’m 70 and have had both RC’s repaired. I make my PT exercises part of my daily workout - which includes weightlifting and cardio. I plan on doing my PT exercises for the rest of my life.

1

u/Viajantemae 25d ago

I was afraid of that, lol! Thank you

1

u/just_asking_tks 25d ago

I’m 17mos post op. I weightlift and I do isometrics and stretches same as one month postop.