Signs & Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries

The shoulders contain muscles and tendons that firmly keep the upper arm in place and attached. Known as the rotator cuff, this area has the fullest range of motion compared to any other joint of the body, states the Mayo Clinic. When these muscles or tendons are damaged, it is diagnosed as a rotator cuff injury. Most are able to heal through careful measures and exercise without the need for medical intervention; however, seek the advice of a doctor if pain in the shoulder lasts longer than a week, recommends the Mayo Clinic.

• Baseball pitchers are prone to rotator cuff injuries because of constant stress on the shoulder area.

Shoulder Pain

• The most obvious sign of rotator cuff injury is pain when lifting the arm. Injuries most often occur during a fall or in people who are involved in sports or occupations in which lifting of the arms above the head is constant. Rotator cuff injuries are common in baseball players, tennis players, weight lifters, archers, swimmers, store shelf stockists or painters. The injured may also feel pain or tenderness when moving the shoulder in any direction and often when sleeping on the side of the injured shoulder.

Shoulder Weakness

• If there is a rip or tear in the tendon tissue, the shoulder is probably considerably weaker and unable to sustain lifting anything with a lot of weight or substance. Strengthening exercises that work the muscles of the shoulders can help prevent rotator cuff injuries. Once an injury does occur, avoid forceful pulling or lifting with the injured arm.

Loss of Movement

• A rotator cuff injury limits the range of motion a person has with the arm and shoulder. Certain arm positions may cause more pain than others. Most will not be able to reach as far back or as high up in the air without an onslaught of extreme pain.

Urge to Keep Arm Inactive

• Because the rotator cuff plays such a critical role in the arm's ability to maintain fluidity and ease of arm movement, an injury to the area gives a person the urge to limit arm movement altogether. In these cases, any movement of the arm is just too painful. Often, simple tasks such as putting on a coat or combing one's hair become difficult to perform.

Crackling

• Many people with rotator cuff injuries can hear a slight crackling sound when rotating their injured arm in a certain way. This is a big indication that the ball of the upper arm bone is not securely held in place in the socket of the shoulder, resulting in bones rubbing together.

Age

• Those over age 40 are more likely to experience a breakdown of the protein (or collagen) within the rotator cuff from years and years of use, reports the Mayo Clinic. Older individuals are also more likely to develop calcium deposits or arthritis in the area of the rotator cuff, which causes it to be pinched and inflamed.