Any injury to the rotator cuff might require the victim to get the best shoulder brace for rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint that help in keeping the arm bone within its socket.
Labrum tears can also be painful and irritating. It is the cartilage that reinforces the ball and socket joint of the shoulder. Therefore, a little tear to this cartilage can keep you out from being active for a long period.
In this article, we will discuss some non-surgical treatment options for torn rotator cuff and labrum, in which getting the best shoulder brace for rotator cuff and labrum tear is a part. We also will be giving you the suggestion of some suitable and best shoulder brace you can opt for.
What is Rotator Cuff Tear?
The rotator cuff is that part of the shoulder consisting of tendons and muscles to keep the arm bone in the socket and a little inflammation or distress to these muscles and tendons can result in huge pain for the victim.
The rotator cuff protects the shoulder and allows you to move your hand above your head. Due to daily overuse, these muscles and tendons can tear if the level of activities you engage in is far stronger the limit your muscles can take.
Rotator cuff tear is very common among folks whose job requires them to move their arm in a certain way/direction repeatedly like the painter and carpenter. It is also common among some sports folks like tennis and baseball.
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Some Symptoms of Torn Rotator Cuff
Some signs allow you to know if you have a torn rotator cuff. They are but not limited to the following:
- Deep pain around the shoulders joint
- Feeling of numbness and aching in the shoulder
- Inability to raise the arm above the head – you may have difficulty to comb your hair
- You find sleeping to be very difficult
- Your shoulder making a popping sound when you move in a certain way
The above symptoms might not be enough proves to ascertain a rotator cuff tear, X-ray can give clue whether there is rotator cuff injury while MRI scan is used to investigate the presence of tear in the rotator cuff. Sometimes, ultra can be used when done by an expert.
Labrum Tear and its Causes
The labrum is the cartilage that reinforces the ball and socket joint to the shoulder and any tear to this part leads to weak arm and shoulder.
Labrum tears can occur in two ways. The first being the Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior (SLAP) tear happens due to high energy activities and most sports players are prone to this.
The other type occurs with the dislocated shoulder joint and this is when humerus bone shifts either to the front or back to cause anterior or posterior shoulder instability.
Some Non-Surgical Treatment for Rotator cuff and Labrum Tear
You might not need to go for a surgery for a torn rotator cuff and labrum. However, it depends on the severity of the injury, especially for rotator cuff tear. These are some things you can do to mitigate rotator cuff tear at home.
It should be noted that these can also be done for other rotator cuff injuries like tendonitis, bursitis and rotator cuff strains which ultimately leads to tearing.
RICE Therapy
You probably are familiar with this therapy and it is one of the best non-surgical treatments for bone, muscles, tendons and joint injuries.
Rest (R)
When you notice some symptoms of rotator cuff and labrum injury, the best thing to do is rest. You need to stop activities that can aggravate the condition. You also need to stabilize the shoulder joint to prevent it from any irregular movement that could cause more harm.
Icing (I)
Icing is very essential to faster recovery from torn rotator cuff and labrum. Icing helps to reduce inflammation and swelling of the affected shoulder. Heating is also very good; just ensure you go for the one suitable for your body. Getting a gel pack can be very effective to give you the best icing or heating therapy.
Compression (C)
Compression is essential and also helps reduce swelling and inflammation. A good compression sleeve can be gotten to achieve this.
Elevation (E)
For rotator cuff tear, it is not advisable to lift your arm above your head. However, some exercises help strengthen the muscle of the shoulder joint. Engaging in some rotator cuff exercises will be a great benefit to reducing the pain and stabilize the shoulder muscles.
Other non-surgical treatment for rotator cuff and labrum tear can include taking anti-inflammatory drugs and injections. We recommend you visit your doctor for the right prescription.
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Why you need the Best Shoulder Brace for Torn Rotator Cuff
Shoulder brace for rotator cuff injury is perfect at giving you all the non-surgical treatment options just by wearing the shoulder brace.
Shoulder brace will stabilize the joint and prevent unnecessary movement that could further deteriorate the injury. By this, your shoulder is perfectly rested, stabilize to ensure the rotator cuff and labrum tear heal up.
Furthermore, shoulder brace compresses the joint its being wore on. You can even adjust this compression to your preference to get the best result out of it. Compression is very essential to healing rotator cuff tear and getting the best shoulder brace is a perfect way to achieve this.
Also, some shoulder brace has an option for hot or cold therapy. Some come with gel pack while the few that don’t come with it always have gel pack pocket to allow you to insert a separately purchased gel pack for hot and cold therapy.
Therefore, getting the best shoulder brace for rotator cuff tear is very essential and we recommend you get one if you are dealing with labrum or rotator cuff tear.
What to look out for in a shoulder brace for Rotator Cuff and Labrum Tear
Adjustable
You need to go for a shoulder brace you can adjust. This gives you the freedom to set to your preference and determine how free you want your shoulder to be. The adjustable feature also helps you to control the amount of compression your shoulder receives from the shoulder brace.
Breathability
How comfortable you will be will determine greatly on this. The type of material used and how the shoulder brace is constructed is very essential to breathability. We recommend a brace that is well perforated to enhance ventilation to the body. Be sure that the material used in making the brace will not give you skin rashes.
Gel pack for Hot/Cold therapy
Ensure you buy a shoulder brace that has a gel pack and if it doesn’t, it should have a gel pack pocket to house the gel pack when you decide to buy. Some shoulder braces are sold with a gel pack while some only have a gel pack pocket to house the pack when you decide to buy.
Customers Feedback
You can read what previous users have written about a particular product to get firsthand information about the qualities of the shoulder brace.
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Top 5 Shoulder Brace for Rotator Cuff and Labrum Tear
What is the best shoulder brace for rotator cuff injury? we have selected the top best five shoulder brace suitable for rotator cuff tear and labrum tear.
NatraCure Hot/Cold & Compression Shoulder Support – Top Choice for Rotator Cuff Injury
Key Features:
- It fits left and right shoulders
- The brace comes with gel pack for hot/cold therapy
- It is adjustable to fit up to chest size 50 inches
- No medical prescription required for consumer use
- It has an air pump for enhanced compression of the shoulder
- The best brace for RICE therapy
Our view:
This is the best shoulder brace for rotator cuff injuries like a tear, tendonitis, and bursitis. It is also suitable for labrum tear and other shoulders injury.
We love its air pump feature that gives the user the chance to get more compression apart from the one gotten from the straps adjustment.
NatraCure Hot/Cold & Compression Shoulder Support comes with its gel pack, you do not need to spend extra on buying. We also like the material used –strong, durable and washable for reuse.
Previous Buyers Review
It has gathered a lot of comments from previous buyers who have nothing but positive feedback. Checking comments by previous buyers on Amazon gave insight into how satisfied previous users of the brace are.
Babo Care Shoulder Stability Brace with Pressure Pad – First Runner Up
Key Features:
- It has a compartment for the gel pack
- The gel pack has to be purchased separately
- It is rightly and evenly perforated for ventilation
- Adult size( Arm size: 9.8”-16.1”, Chest size: 33”- 45”)
- 45 days 100% money-back guarantee
Our View:
The comfort you will get is top-notch as the shoulder brace is made with quality material and built in a way to enhance comfort.
Babo Care Shoulder Stability Brace is our first runner up choice for the best shoulder brace for torn rotator cuff and labrum tear. It is very easy to use and adjust to different arm chest sizes.
The shoulder brace also comes with a pressure pad and compartment for the gel pack. We recommend it for other shoulder injuries to stabilize the shoulder joint for faster recovery.
Previous Buyers Review
The shoulder brace is one of the most purchased on Amazon. It has been rated more than 1900 times by previous buyers and still amasses great numbers of positive reviews.
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FIGHTECH Shoulder Brace for Men and Women | Compression Support for Torn Rotator Cuff and Other Shoulder Injuries
Key Features:
- Multiple sizes available: Small/Medium and Large/X-Large
- Suitable for right and left shoulders
- Pressure pocket available but ice pack is not included
- It is breathable and perforated neoprene for comfort
- Low profile design – nearly invisible under the cloth
- Adjustable Velcro straps – arm and chest region
Our View:
The shoulder brace is one of Amazon’s choices for shoulder brace which means it is readily available when you place the order.
FIGHTECH Shoulder Brace is suitable for frozen shoulder, rotator cuff tear, dislocated shoulder / AC joint, AC separation, bursitis, labrum tear, shoulder muscle soreness, tendonitis, stiff joints, broken humerus bone, post-op SLAP surgery and more.
The brace is also very strong and durable. You can wear it on the cloth or under the cloth with people hardly noticing it. We also like its versatility as it’s suitable for injury and prevention of injury during sporting activities.
Previous Buyers Review
With comments like “Great shoulder support!……”; “It does the Job…….”; “I received comfort almost immediately with this brace……” and many other positive feedbacks further affirm its qualities.
McDavid 207 Compression Shoulder Wrap with Hot/Cold Gel Packs
Key Features:
- It is made with 100% latex-free neoprene
- The shoulder brace is adjustable with strong Velcro straps
- Includes two reusable hot-cold gel packs
Our View:
We find this to be more suitable for injury prevention rather than rehabilitation. It is suitable for injury recovery; however, we recommend it more for protection during sporting activities that might pose an injury threat to the shoulder.
McDavid 207 Compression Shoulder Wrap looks smart and very strong to stabilize the shoulder joint and prevent injury. The ice pack pocket and ice pack gel make it a suitable one for hot and cold therapy for faster recovery.
Its design is low profile but our reservation is the area it will cover. The brace looks small and does not cover a substantial area on the shoulder.
Previous Buyers Review
The shoulder brace has a lot of positive reviews. However, some buyers are not quite impressed with its design. Some find it difficult to exchange to the left shoulder.
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Shoulder Brace by SYOSIN – Rotator Cuff Support for Injury Prevention, Dislocated AC Joint, Labrum Tear, Tendonitis and Fracture – Shoulder Compression Sleeve with Pressure Pad
Key Features:
- Available sizes: Small and Medium
- It fits for Arm size: 13’’-17’’ and Chest size: 33’’-52’’
- Breathable and perforated for ventilation and comfort
- 3-months money-back guarantee
- Super Velcro and high-quality hook and loop
- Universal design for left and right shoulders
Our View:
Shoulder Brace by SYOSIN is one of the best shoulder braces for rotator cuff injury and labrum tear. We like the strength it wields to rightly stabilize the injured shoulders or prevent injury.
Breathable material is essential for comfort. The brace is not only made with high-quality material but also rightly constructed to ensure the stability, support, and comfort of the user.
Its dual high-quality plastic loop design for two-way adjustment can be worn on either shoulder for men and women.
Previous Buyers Review
“This brace is nice for my dislocated shoulder helping it heal much faster…” This and many more encouraging reviews have been said by previous buyers. It has a high customer rating on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you immobilize a rotator cuff injury?
This should depend on the severity of the injury. Immobilization should be very brief and not for a long time. You can wear a shoulder brace that prevents irregular movement of the shoulder that could lead to worsening the injury. Completely immobilizing the joint for a long time might lead to other complications like loss of range of motion.
Does a torn rotator cuff hurt all the time?
The pain from the torn rotator cuff is more severe at night and might wake you up in the morning. It is more bearable during the day. It also depends on how severe the injury is.
What percentage of rotator cuff tears requires surgery?
When more than 80% of the tendon is torn, then surgery is recommended for the victim. Also, your doctor will try non-surgical options first and will decide to do surgery if the non-surgery option is not helping.
Is massage good for rotator cuff injury?
Massage, if done by an expert and dine rightly, can help circulation to the area and hasten recovery time.
Conclusion
Getting the best shoulder brace for rotator cuff tear is essential. A good shoulder brace will help you prevent shoulder injuries and also can be used for rehabilitation.
Our top choice shoulder brace for rotator cuff injury and labrum tear is NatraCure Hot/Cold & Compression Shoulder Support while Babo Care Shoulder Stability Brace with Pressure Pad is the runner up.
We are however sure that all the shoulder braces on our list are top-notched and high-quality brace suitable for recovery of various shoulder injuries and also preventing them.