Rotator Cuff Injuries

Definition:

• An injury to one or more of the four muscles in the shoulder

• Four muscles of the rotator cuff:

• Supraspinatus

• Infraspinatus

• Teres Minor

• Subscapularis

• The type of injury can range from inflammation to a complete tear of the muscle

How:

• Sudden or gradual injury to the muscle.

• Poor biomechanics of the shoulder joint

Symptoms:

• Pain at rest and at night, worse when lying on the affected shoulder.

• Pain when lifting and lowering your arm.

• Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm.

• Popping and clicking when moving your shoulder in certain positions.

Causes:

• Grade 1 tear - acute

• Overuse activity such as overhead sports

• No prior history of injury

• Grade 2 tear – tendonitis/tendonopathy

• Degeneration and wear of the tendons

• Repetitive trauma to the tendons and bursa

• Long standing history of grade 1 injury leading to thickening of the tendons

• Grade 3

• Complete thickness tear of the rotator cuff tendon

• Severe muscle weakness

Treatment:

• Ice massage – 3-5 minutes with an ice cup

• Retraining the biomechanics of the shoulder

• Surgery may be deemed necessary with severe tears to the rotator cuff