Nutritional Treatment for Rotator Cuff Tears (Part I)

Here is a recent article I published in newyorktennismagazine.com

I treat a lot of tennis players with shoulder pain, usually from rotator cuff issues. My goal is always to get them back on the court quickly without drugs, injections or surgery—and to keep them there by avoiding re-injury. For fast, effective, non-drug treatment, I rely on some proven nutritional supplements that work extremely well to help painful shoulders heal.

Treating the rotator cuff
Most rotator cuff tears don’t fully heal on their own, and that could mean months of pain and sitting on the sidelines. To speed up the healing process, the first weapon in my
arsenal of non-drug techniques is nutritional supplements to reduce the inflammation caused by the tear. Pain and swelling—inflammation—are your body’s normal response to any injury. That’s a good thing, but only up to a point. Too much inflammation for too long can actually damage the tendons, leaving you with long-term loss of strength and mobility in the shoulder and a greater likelihood of re-injury.

The right nutritional supplements can be very helpful for managing inflammation and bringing down the pain. For the acute phase—the first 72 hours when the injury is usually most painful—I recommend:

►Proteolytic enzymes, including trypsin, chymotrypsin and bromelain. Proteolytic enzymes are a natural way to reduce swelling. They’re very effective and don’t upset your stomach.

►Natural anti-inflammatories, including Boswellia, turmeric, ginger and vitamin C. These nutrients bring down the pain and swelling. They work well without causing digestive problems.

►Nutrients to relax muscle tissue, including calcium, magnesium, lemon balm and valerian. To protect the damaged area, the muscles around it contract, causing additional pain. These supplements relax them without making you groggy.

For many of my patients, the difference between a rotator cuff tear that heals well and one that doesn’t is a supplement containing THIAA (tetrahydro iso-alpha acids) and berberine. These natural substances give your body the underlying materials it needs to build healing enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Boosting your MMPs production is very helpful for speeding up the way your body rebuilds and remodels damaged tissues. I have my patients start taking this supplement on the fourth day after the injury and continue for another eight weeks. During this time, I also recommend 2,000 IU of Vitamin D every day. Many people are low on Vitamin D, which is vital for normal healing.

View the full Article here