I went to the PT for the first time on Monday after several months of shoulder soreness after a workout. One of the initial tests we did was the Gerber lift test which I couldn’t perform at all. My mind told me to move my arm but nothing was happening. I looked up the reason for doing this test as well as the cause for not being able to execute it and it says that it’s the result of a torn subscapularis. I’m not really sure how to take this since “torn” to me means constant pain and unable to move the body part at all.
Some quick background on this shoulder (rightside). I dislocated my shoulder about 15 years ago and had open surgery done on it to fix it. I’ve been active throughout these years and can’t say I noticed too much of a difference between the two sides. The PT says that my left and right muscles are different and most likely I’ve compensated for the injury over the years.
My question: Can I have a torn subscapularis but still able to swim, lift weights, etc. and only get sore? Xray’s show no abnormalities but I haven’t had an MRI yet. I guess military docs figure some motrin 800mg and PT should do it for now. I plan to do a few sessions of PT and then have the therapist refer me back for an MRI but I figure if it is torn then what benefit will PT have.
Latissimus Dorsi, Pectoralis Major and Teres Major are all internal rotators of the Glenohumeral joint. The other cuff muscles will still stabilize your joint. So while I bet that you can do fine without a subscapularis your joint is less stable and weaker. PT can improve this but not make your torn muscle grow back.
Talk to a doc imo. Someone who realizes what an athlete need.
Have the MRI as soon as possible and find out what is REALLY damaged. I just wasted two months on PT and cortisone because the Ortho and PT both were convinced that there couldn’t be “that much damage” for me to still have the strength and ability I had. Same general diagnosis as yours. X-Ray didn’t show anything much. Finally got an MRI and it looked like a train wreck - torn rotator cuff - shredded biceps tendon - bone spurs impinging - “minor” problems with labrum and subscapularis (apparently a family of hamsters had also signed a lease and were preparing to move in sometime this week). Anyway, had surgery a couple of weeks ago and even though it’s still very stiff and painful, there is already an improvement over the previous condition and I have hopes for high level of recovery. Get the MRI! Poking, prodding and assuming from experience is no substitute for a real look at the situation.