Shoulder Problems and Treatments Archives

How are Shoulders Like Onions? [Video]

Here I peel back the layers and talk a little about why shoulders are a bit like onions (while plugging our fundraiser for National Shoulder and Elbow Week) A Garden Analogy for Shoulder Complexity Dr. Matthew DiPaola takes a unique approach to explaining the complexity of the shoulder joint—by comparing it to an onion. Just … Read more

What types of activities do people with shoulder pain struggle to do? [VIDEO]

by Matthew DiPaola

Why Shoulder Pain Deserves More Attention Than You Think A Message from Dr. Matt DiPaola in Support of National Shoulder & Elbow Week Good morning from Amherst, NY! In today’s video, Dr. Matt DiPaola takes a moment before clinic hours to talk about something many people overlook—shoulder pain—and why National Shoulder & Elbow Week (May … Read more

How Long Will Rehabilitation Take After Rotator Cuff Surgery? The Answer Usually Depends on One Key Factor.

by Matthew DiPaola

Being told that you need rotator cuff surgery can be an intimidating prospect. Physical Therapy after Surgery One of the main concerns is how much physical therapy you will need after surgery. How long will therapy take? And when will you finally be back doing what you want to do? The truth is, most people … Read more

Do Shoulder Surgery Anchors Come Out? What You Need to Know

by Matthew DiPaola

Why Are Suture Anchors Used in Shoulder Surgery? Suture anchors are small devices used to attach soft tissue (like tendons or ligaments) to bone. They are critical tools in modern orthopedic procedures, particularly in rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs, and instability surgeries. By providing a stable fixation point, they allow tissues to heal back to … Read more

Anchors Away: Tiny Devices That Can Help Your Shoulder in A Big Way

by Matthew DiPaola

When I am explaining rotator cuff surgery to patients, one of the most common questions I get is, “How do you repair the tear?”

My answer typically involves an explanation of some basics about rotator cuff tears:

Smoking is Bad for Your Shoulder Too

by Matthew DiPaola

We highlighted an article a while ago about how smoking was bad for your bones in general. It not only leads to osteoporosis (weak bone) but can lead to poor healing if you are unlucky enough to break a bone.

Should You Exercise Before Shoulder Surgery?

by Matthew DiPaola

The other day a patient asked me if he should exercise his shoulder before getting a shoulder replacement. A little background, the patient is about 60 years old and is an avid weight lifter. I was a little confused by the question so I asked him to clarify.

He thought that if he increased his shoulder and chest strength before surgery, this would make it easier for him to recover and for me to do the surgery.

Will Your Rotator Cuff Retear After Surgery?

by Matthew DiPaola

Rotator cuff tears can be tricky. And unfortunately not all rotator cuff repairs are fool proof. Older studies showed that rotator cuff repairs failed to heal in up to 3/4 of attempts in some patients.

Newer studies tend to show more favorable results but on average still report at least a 1/4 chance of retiring of the rotator cuff repair.

When NOT to Repair a Labrum Tear in Your Shoulder

by Matthew DiPaola

The patient was about 40 years old. My hunch was that she had a repair that never healed. The evidence was there: she already had one failed repair, a re-repair and her symptoms were exactly the same as when she first came to the previous doctor: popping, catching, pain with reaching across her body and … Read more