Rotator Cuff Muscle Injuries & Arm & Shoulder Pain

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that help keep the shoulder stable during circular or rotating movements. If small tears to the tendons that connect these muscles to the bone occur, inflammation, shoulder pain and soreness will develop. Simple daily activities such as reaching for an object overhead or raking leaves will be painful.

Cause

• Any repetitive activity that places demands on an unconditioned shoulder may lead to shoulder and arm pain. Sudden trauma caused by falling on the shoulder may cause inflammation and a rotator cuff injury. Repetitive and overuse activities put a lot of stress on the muscles and tendons of the shoulder. Tennis players and baseball pitchers are prone to shoulder problems. This injury is not limited to athletes, though, as house painters and gardeners can also develop rotator cuff problems.

Symptoms

• The most common symptom of a rotator cuff injury is pain on the top and front of the shoulder. Other symptoms include a weak shoulder, loss of shoulder motion, pain that keeps you awake at night, pain that travels down the arm and difficulty reaching for objects overhead. Simply extending the arm forward to shake a hand can be painful.

Diagnosis

• An orthopedic doctor or a sports doctor can diagnose rotator cuff injuries by applying pressure to various locations on your shoulder, checking for pain. They will check for full range of motion of the shoulder and arm and check for stiffness of the joint. Tests that use resistance to forward and downward motions will be performed. An MRI imaging test may be ordered to indicate any tears in the tendons and to rule out any bone structure issues.

Treatment

• Treatment will depend on the severity of the injury. If the shoulder is inflamed with only slight tendon tears, rest, applying ice, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy will help heal the injury without surgery. Cortisone injections may be prescribed. For severe tears of the tendon, arthroscopic surgery will be performed to repair the tendon. After surgery, shoulder exercises and physical therapy will help strengthen the shoulder while healing.

Considerations

• Full recovery from a rotator cuff injury depends on the severity of the injury, the kind of treatment prescribed, your physical condition and your age. Recovery is assisted by beginning treatment as soon as possible after the injury occurs. Shoulder strengthening exercises will help keep the shoulder muscles strong enough for any task. When there is no shoulder or arm pain with full range of motion, regular activities can be resumed.