Rotator Cuff

What causes a rotator cuff injury?

Inside of your shoulder is the rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint and gives it a wide range of motion.

Because the rotator cuff gives you such versatility in movement, it carries a high risk for injury, especially if you participate in sports or experience trauma from a fall or auto accident.

Overuse injuries are the most common injuries that affect the rotator cuff. This is especially common in baseball and tennis players because of the repetitive shoulder motions required of the sport.

Tears in the rotator cuff are also common and you can experience either a partial or complete tear due to traumatic injury in a fall or auto accident.

You can also develop bursitis, an inflammation in bursa sacs that lie between the rotator cuff tendons and the bone.

What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff injury?

Depending on the nature of your injury, you may not experience any pain or other noticeable symptoms. However, if you tear your rotator cuff during a fall or other incident, you’ll likely have sudden, intense pain and limited movement in your shoulder.

Other common symptoms that can indicate rotator cuff damage includes:

• Shoulder weakness
• Difficulties lifting the shoulder
• Sleep disturbances due to shoulder pain

If rest and over-the-counter medications aren’t enough to ease your pain, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Delta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine as soon as possible.

How is a rotator cuff injury treated?

After Dr. Hood determines the type of rotator cuff injury you have through a physical exam and imaging tests, like an X-ray or MRI, he creates a treatment plan using nonsurgical therapies.

Initially, you may benefit from physical therapy to ease pain and increase your range of motion if you have a minor rotator cuff tear or strain. You can also receive injections of pain-relieving medications and anti-inflammatories to treat pain and inflammation in the shoulder joint.

If your rotator cuff is completely torn away from the bone, Dr. Hood may recommend surgery. He uses small incisions to access the damaged muscles and tendons and minimally invasive surgical techniques to make repairs and ensure your shoulder joint is stable.

Following surgery, you’ll need additional physical therapy to strengthen the rotator cuff and restore your range of motion. Dr. Hood can determine when the right time is to return to strenuous activities and sports to ensure your shoulder has time to heal properly.

If you have symptoms of a rotator cuff injury, schedule a diagnostic appointment by calling the office nearest you today or book a consultation with Dr. Hood using the online booking feature.