The rotator cuff is a set of muscles that aid in the movement and stabilization of the shoulder. There is a lot of movement around the shoulder area. These movements render the rotator cuff tendons and muscles prone to injuries. The area suffers injuries such as tears, strains, and tendinitis. People who take part in tasks involving overhead motions experience more of these injuries. These injuries increase with age. A rotator cuff tear West Chester requires immediate orthopedic medical attention. It is important to take part in physical therapies. Physical therapy boosts the strength and flexibility of rotator cuff muscles. Strong and flexible rotator cuff muscles reduce the chances of suffering a rotator cuff tear.Below, we discuss all the necessary information about the rotator cuff injuries.
Types of rotator cuff tears
There are two major types of rotator cuff injuries, namely: partial and complete.
Partial
Partial injuries are where the tendons are not completely detached from the arm-bone.
Complete
A complete injury is an injury where the tendons are completely detached from the arm bone.
Symptoms of rotator curve injury
They include:
- Pain when stretching overhead.
- Shoulders experience a progressive weakness.
- Pain when sleeping on a shoulder that is affected.
- Reaching out to the side becomes difficult and painful.
- A dull deep pain in the shoulder.
Causes of rotator cuff injuries
Wear and tear of tendon tissues around the shoulder area lead to injuries at the rotator cuff. The wear and tear result from overhead arm stretching, heavy and incorrect lifting, falling incidents, and accidents. Degenerative wear and tear occur in two major ways. They include decreased blood flow and bone spurs.
Decreased blood flow
When enough blood does not flow in muscles and tendon tissues, it becomes difficult for them to repair themselves. It makes torn muscles last long without healing. Blood flow decreases with age.
Bone spurs
These are growths that occur at the top of the shoulder bones. They rub against tendons during arm movements causing the tendons to tear.
Risk factors for rotator cuff tears
Several factors increase the risk of rotator cuff injuries. They include smoking, poor posture, hereditary shoulder problems, and aging (40 and above.)
Diagnosis of a rotator cuff injury
An orthopedic practitioner performs a physical examination to detect symptoms such as tenderness. To confirm the diagnosis, you can undergo check-ups such as an x-ray (to detect
bone spurs.) or an MRI (to identify tendon tears.
Treatment of a rotator cuff injury
Treatment of rotator cuff injuries can be done both surgically and non-surgically. Some of the non-surgical treatments include:
- Steroid injections that reduce inflammation
- Resting the arm by, for example, wearing strings to limit the affected arm’s motion.
- Use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.
- Exercising to restore the strength of the arm and the range of motion.
- Placing hot or cold packs on the affected area to reduce swelling.
How to prevent rotator cuff injuries
Preventing rotator cuff injuries is achieved by maintaining the flexibility of rotator cuff muscles and tendons through exercising.
Rotator cuff muscles and tendons are an important part of our arms. It is important to keep the muscles healthy to enhance the proper functioning of our arms. Reach out to a specialist if you detect any weird symptoms on your muscles.
