3. Apply Heat
While icing the shoulder is necessary immediately after an injury has occurred in order to reduce inflammation and swelling, heat can also help with a rotator cuff injury. Heat can help to loosen up the muscles and alleviate some of the pain that you are experiencing. To help alleviate pain using heat you will want to use a heating pad that is moist.
Apply heat to the area for about fifteen or twenty minutes to help relieve the pain that you are having. In addition, using a heating pad before you exercise or before you go to physical therapy can help loosen up the muscles before putting a strain on them. It can also help to strengthen your shoulder, which is important when you are healing from an injury to the shoulder. Alternating a heating pad with an ice pack can also help alleviate the pain that is associated with a rotator cuff injury.