A rotator cuff tear can be partial, which is when the tendon is damaged but not fully torn. Or it can be a full-thickness tear, which means that the tendon is fully severed.
The latter is more serious and typically causes significant pain and movement difficulties. Doctors diagnose rotator cuff injuries by palpating the area and doing a series of range-of-motion tests.
They sometimes also use scanning equipment, such as x-rays or MRI, to identify damage to soft tissue in the shoulder joint. Common treatments for a torn rotator cuff may include rest, joint immobilization, cold therapy, and physical therapy. In extreme cases, a doctor may recommend surgery. Surgical repair of severe rotator cuff injuries may help reduce the risk of the injury recurring.
Shoulder injuries such as a torn rotator cuff should be treated immediately to prevent further damage. Using a combination of active compression and cryotherapy is one way to help injured tissues heal while helping to reduce pain and inflammation at the same time. Both cold and compression may alleviate swelling, change cellular metabolism, and promote healing. Game Ready's patented active cold and compression system utilizes therapeutic cold to penetrate more deeply.
The temperature remains consistent for the duration of the therapy, while the system helps pump excess fluid away from the injured area. Specialized wraps conform to your body to ensure the best possible coverage. If you have a rotator cuff injury or any other type of shoulder problem, ask your doctor about Game Ready or find a provider near you. All content found on this website, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only.
When to See a Doctor See a doctor for a sudden shoulder injury, especially if you felt pulling or tearing when it happened, or have pain or swelling after the injury.
Find a Provider. Rotator cuff injuries are most commonly caused by: Sudden injury, like a fall or hit to the shoulder. Repeated use of the shoulder — for example, in athletics or work that requires you to hold your arms above your head for a long time such as painting. Age-related wear and tear. Weakness or imbalance in the shoulder muscles.
Sometimes 1 or 2 of the shoulder muscles are much weaker than the others because of the way you sit or use your arms. Exercise and good posture can keep the shoulder strong and in balance. Diagnosis and Tests. To diagnose a problem with your shoulder, the doctor may: Talk to you about your medical history, including what your shoulder feels like and when the problem started. Look at your shoulder and ask you to move it certain ways.
Do one or more imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI. This lets the doctor see what is happening inside your shoulder. The MRI can give the doctor more information about any damage to the soft tissue in the shoulder.
Open All Sections. Treatments for rotator cuff injuries include: Rest. While it is healing, take a break from any activity that requires you to use your shoulder. Change the way you sit, stand, or use your shoulder to reduce or remove strain.
Use ice packs to reduce pain and inflammation in the shoulder after an injury or when you have pain from tendinitis or bursitis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, may help reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor may also recommend: Physical therapy, to change the way you use your shoulder and make it stronger and more flexible.
Cortisone shots, for shoulder pain and inflammation. Arthroscopy or other surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and remove scar tissue. Musculoskeletal care , 4 3 , pp. Lawrence, R. Asymptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears. JBJS reviews , 7 6 , p. Shoulder pain — could it be your rotator cuff? View Larger Image. Who gets rotator cuff pain and what causes it? The pain normally occurs due to too much activity too quickly. For example, when returning to the gym or sport after a prolonged period of inactivity.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy is often associated with subacromial bursitis. It often occurs for no apparent reason i.
Rotator cuff tear: One of the main risk factors for rotator cuff tears is age i. There is a significant increase in the number of tears once you are over The management of a rotator cuff tear varies from person to person. Calcific tendinopathy also known as calcific tendinitis : We are not sure why some people develop bony deposits in the rotator cuff tendons. It can sometimes be related to some metabolic diseases such as abnormal thyroid gland activity and diabetes. It can affect anyone but is more common in active people who carry out prolonged overhead activity or exercise such as tennis players or painters.
How do you diagnose rotator cuff pain? The symptoms of rotator cuff pain are: Achy pain on the outside of the shoulder that can travel towards the elbow Sharp pain when you move your arm quickly, above your head or behind your back A feeling of weakness when you lift something up Inability to move your shoulder fully Pain is often worse at night particularly if you sleep on the shoulder During your initial assessment, your physiotherapist will also carry out some specific tests of your shoulder to gain more information about your presentation.
There are many factors that must be considered and these will be assessed if your physiotherapist feels they may be relevant to your presentation: Strength of your rotator cuff muscles Strength and stability of your scapula muscles Mobility of your middle back thoracic spine and your neck cervical spine Technique in the gym or during sporting activities From your assessment, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you if you have rotator cuff pain.
What can you do to help shoulder pain? There is good evidence to support that even if the tear does not heal, you can still have no pain, full range of movement and full function of the shoulder. Remember most people only have one tear in one tendon and we have three other tendons that can work to compensate! If the pain: is getting worse waking you at night preventing you from engaging in your physiotherapy exercises we would strongly suggest considering an ultrasound-guided steroid injection for the pain.
Should you have surgery for a rotator cuff tear?
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