Post: How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Shoulder Ligament Tear?

Understanding Your Shoulder Ligament Tear

Your shoulder ligaments are strong bands of tissue. They connect your shoulder bone to your upper arm bone and keep your shoulder stable. When an injury occurs, these ligaments can stretch or tear. Healthcare (doctor, chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist) providers grade shoulder sprains based on how damaged your shoulder ligaments are: Grade 1 sprain (mild): Very little or no tearing in your ligaments. Grade 2 sprain (moderate): Your ligaments are partially torn, but not all the way through. Grade 3 sprain (severe): Your ligaments are completely torn.

Your injury can happen one of two ways: suddenly from a fall or accident or it can develop slowly from repeated overhead activities. Athletes like tennis players and swimmers often face these injuries. Those of us who frequently perform tasks with your arms raised overhead also face a higher risk of injury.

How Long Will Your Recovery Take?

Your recovery time depends on how severe your injury is. If you have a mild (grade 1) tear, you might feel better in one to two weeks. The healing period for a moderate (grade 2) tear can range from a few weeks to several months. If you have a severe (grade 3) tear, you might need surgery. After surgery, your recovery could take four to six months.

Your age, health, and how well you follow your treatment plan can also affect how fast you heal. Younger people usually heal faster. If you have other health problems, your recovery might take longer.

What Affects Your Healing Time

Several things can influence how quickly you recover. Your age plays a big role in healing speed. Younger people often heal faster than older adults. Your overall health also matters greatly. If you have diabetes or other health conditions, your healing might take longer.

The size and location of your tear affect recovery time. Younger patients without shoulder stiffness and with smaller rotator cuff tears had shorter functional recovery periods. If you had shoulder stiffness before your injury, the condition can slow your progress.

Your commitment to treatment makes a huge difference. Follow your physical therapy programme carefully, which speeds healing. Rest is also crucial during the early stages. If you neglect to let your body rest and recover, continual overuse may worsen the injury.

Your Treatment Journey

Most shoulder ligament tears start with conservative treatment. The most common treatment for shoulder sprains is the R.I.C.E. method: Rest: Avoid the activity that caused the injury. Try not to use your shoulder while it heals. Ice: Apply a cold compress to your shoulder 15 minutes at a time, a few times a day.

Physical therapy becomes crucial in your recovery. It helps restore your shoulder’s strength and movement. Your therapist will guide you through exercises designed for your specific injury. These exercises start gently and gradually become more challenging.

Should conservative treatment prove ineffective after several months, surgery may become necessary. You can go home the same day after most outpatient shoulder sprain surgeries. Recovery typically involves physical therapy to help restore complete functionality and range of motion to the affected joint.

Getting Back to Your Activities

Returning to your normal activities happens gradually. Your pain levels will guide much of this process. You’ll start with basic daily tasks first. Sports and heavy lifting come later in your recovery.

Studying the repair of partial rotator cuff tears, Rossi et al. found that 87% of patients (61/72) were able to return to sports and 56 patients (80%) returned to the same level they had before injury. Overhead athletes took significantly longer to return, with a mean time of 6.4 months versus 3.6 months for noncollision, nonoverhead athletes.

Your healthcare team will help you decide when it’s safe to return. They’ll test your strength and movement before clearing you. Don’t rush this process, as returning too early can cause re-injury.

What You Can Expect

Most people with shoulder ligament tears recover well. Your pain should gradually decrease over weeks or months. Your movement will slowly improve with proper treatment. Strength returns as your tissues heal and you complete physical therapy.

Some people worry about long-term problems. While some may have occasional stiffness or mild discomfort, most return to their normal activities. Following your treatment plan carefully gives you the best chance for full recovery.