ValleyOrtho’s physicians treat a wide range of common shoulder injuries,
including rotator cuff tears.
About
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that help provide stability
and mobility to the shoulder. The four muscles include the supraspinatus,
infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.
The tendons of these four muscles come together to connect the upper arm
bone, or “humerus”, to the shoulder blade, or “scapula.”
The tendons form a “cuff” around the shoulder joint. The supraspinatus
tendon is the most frequently torn tendon in the shoulder.
Causes
Tears to the rotator cuff can be caused by an injury such as a fall or
impact to the shoulder. Other causes include repetitive lifting or pulling,
or lifting too much overhead. Long term or “chronic” tears
are more common and are caused by wear and tear over the years, placing
individuals over the age of 40 at increased risk. People that do repetitive
activities in their jobs such as painting or hammering are also at an
increased risk for tears.
Symptoms
Limited range of motion (ROM) especially when lifting the arm to the side
away from the body
Muscle weakness (atrophy)
Pain at night while trying to sleep
Pain near the tear, radiating pain down the upper arm
Diagnosis
A thorough physical exam, X-rays, presence of symptoms and history review
are the basis for determining the source of shoulder pain. An MRI may
be used to provide a detailed, high-resolution image of the bones, joints
and surrounding soft tissues, such as tendons, ligaments and muscles.
It helps us understand how extensive the damage or abnormality is and
if surgery is potentially required.
Treatment
Factors that determine the appropriate treatment include the size of the
tear, patient age, symptoms and functional goals. Physical therapy can
help to decrease pain, address strength deficiencies and correct biomechanics.
The majority of shoulder injuries respond to a nonsurgical approach, such
as anti-inflammatory medications, icing, rest, physical therapy, or a
temporary sling and/or brace. If symptoms fail to improve with conservative
care, rotator cuff surgery may be indicated.
At ValleyOrtho, we understand that shoulder pain takes our patients out
of activities and work, which is why we are committed to developing specifically
tailored treatment plans to help get our patient’s back to an active
lifestyle.
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