Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Almost Daily Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE

Returning to Action After Biceps Tenodesis

Returning to Action After Biceps Tenodesis

The biceps tendon runs from the biceps muscle through the rotator cuff and into the shoulder joint, where it then attaches to the socket. If the biceps tendon becomes inflamed or irritated, a condition called bicep tendinopathy, you may need to undergo surgery called biceps tenodesis to relieve the discomfort. Although it can develop slowly overContinue Reading »

Treating a SICK Scapula

Treating a SICK Scapula

When a scapula, or shoulder blade, is described as SICK, it doesn’t mean ill; it is actually an acronym invented by researchers/physicians who observed a syndrome involving the shoulder areas of professional baseball players. It stands for Scapula Internal rotation, Coracoid pain and Dyskinesia (SICK), the conditions that make up this syndrome. Because the scapulaContinue Reading »

Keeping Shoulder Pain at Bay

Keeping Shoulder Pain at Bay

Shoulder impingement syndrome can involve bursitis (inflammation of the shoulder’s bursa), tendinitis (inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons), calcium deposits in the tendons or any combination of the three. People at risk include those who employ repeated overhead movements—tennis players, golfers, swimmers, construction workers and, quite commonly, those who perform do-it-yourself repairs around the home.Continue Reading »

Retearing a Repaired Rotator Cuff

Retearing a Repaired Rotator Cuff

Retearing a Repaired Rotator Cuff No one enters into surgery lightly. Before you underwent surgery to repair your rotator cuff, you probably weighed all the pros and cons with your doctor, so it is understandably disconcerting to discover you have retorn your rotator cuff. A recent study by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports MedicineContinue Reading »

Stop Doing Rotator Cuff Exercises!

Stop Doing Rotator Cuff Exercises!

Stop Doing Rotator Cuff Exercises! Many athletes and non- athletes suffer from rotator cuff tendinitis or rotator cuff tears. Many times, a solution doesn’t lie in strengthening the existing rotator cuff, but rather the scapular stabilizers. Scapular stabilizers provide support for the rotator cuff to function. They are the foundation of the rotator cuff andContinue Reading »

Do I Need Surgery For My Rotator Cuff Tear?

Do I Need Surgery For My Rotator Cuff Tear?

Whether or not a patient requires surgery after being diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear is a common discussion at the clinic. Just like with most injuries, not all rotator cuff tears are created equal. Before the decision to go in for surgery is made, there are a few factors to be considered: size ofContinue Reading »

Restitching a Torn Rotator Cuff

Restitching a Torn Rotator Cuff

Your rotator cuff is a collection of muscles and tendons located where your upper arm meets your shoulder socket. Its primary purpose is to provide structural support to your body so that you can perform a wide range of arm movements, especially ones that involve overhead motion. These include manual labor activities—painting and carpentry, forContinue Reading »

Dive Back in After Swimmer’s Shoulder

Are you an avid swimmer now sidelined by swimmer’s shoulder? You have plenty of company. Swimmer’s shoulder can develop from overuse, a change in your stroke or an increase in the intensity or duration of your swimming activity.   Swimmers tend to have above-average flexibility and range of motion in the shoulder—that’s great for swimming.Continue Reading »

“Filling” the Gap After Rotator Cuff Surgery

 You may hear the term “fatty infiltration” for the first time when you see a physician about a rotator cuff injury. After you tear the tendon in your shoulder, a large gap remains between the tendon and the bones, keeping the shoulder muscle from performing its usual actions of shortening and lengthening. The body attemptsContinue Reading »

Shoulder Injuries in Throwing Athletes

by Raphael S. F. Longobardi, MD, FAAOS University Orthopedic Center, PA – Hackensack, NJ www.universityorthopaedic.com Spring time typically marks the return of America’s favorite pastime- baseball. All over the country, baseball (and softball) teams have been gearing up to start play. In years past, baseball had remained a single-season sport. Now, teams and clubs remainContinue Reading »