A rotator cuff tear impacts the muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. This common injury often leads to pain and difficulty in arm movement, significantly affecting daily activities. Simple tasks like getting dressed can become challenging.
If you have shoulder pain and limited arm mobility, it's crucial to see your doctor to prevent further harm to your shoulder joint, muscles, and tendons.
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A torn rotator cuff is a condition in which one or more tendons in the shoulder's rotator cuff group are torn, causing them to detach from the bone. These tendons, along with the associated muscles, play a crucial role in enabling you to move your arm. A torn rotator cuff typically results in pain and limitations in arm mobility and rotation.
A torn rotator cuff is a frequent injury, affecting about 2 million people each year. Symptoms may vary, with some people experiencing persistent pain and others having sudden pain due to an injury.
There are two types of rotator cuff tears:
The rotator cuff is the group of tendons and related muscles that help keep the upper arm bone seated in the socket of the shoulder blade. A torn rotator cuff tendon can cause pain, weakness, and limited range of motion in the shoulder.
A rotator cuff tear may be:
A rotator cuff injury can happen from:
Many factors may put you at risk for a rotator cuff tear, including:
It's important to note that untreated rotator cuff tears can lead to further complications, including chronic pain, limited arm functionality and range of motion, and potential damage to the shoulder joint. Seeking a proper diagnosis and treatment is vital to preventing these complications.
A tear also can increase over time — so a partial rotator cuff tear may progress to a total tear.
To reduce the risk of tearing your rotator cuff, avoid heavy lifting and take breaks from repetitive arm and shoulder movements.
It's also crucial to maintain flexibility in your shoulder muscles and tendons. Your doctor may suggest strengthening and stretching exercises for you to do at home to keep your shoulder joint in good shape.
Trauma-induced rotator cuff tears, such as those resulting from a fall or a blow, often lead to intense pain and a sudden onset of symptoms. Sudden and severe pain is a sign that something is wrong, and you should see a doctor right away.
Tears caused by wear and tear may have a slower progression of pain and symptoms. Initially, rest and over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or aspirin may provide relief. But if the pain worsens or doesn't improve with rest, see your doctor for an exam.
Regardless of why you're having rotator cuff pain, continuing to use the injured shoulder might worsen the damage and tear.
The most common symptoms of rotator cuff tears include:
If you injure your shoulder, have chronic shoulder and arm pain, or suspect you have a rotator cuff tear, you should see your doctor.
Your rotator cuff won't heal on its own, especially if you keep trying to do what you normally do. However, early diagnosis and treatment of a rotator cuff tear can help prevent losing strength and range of motion in your shoulder.
To diagnose a rotator cuff tear, your doctor will take your complete medical history, focusing on any previous shoulder or muscle injuries you've had. They'll also do a physical exam to assess your shoulder's range of motion and muscle movements while asking about the pain intensity.
Depending on the results of the exam, your doctor may need to run tests.
If your doctor suspects that you have a rotator cuff injury, they'll likely order imaging tests, such as an:
To avoid long-term pain and limited use of your shoulder, you should treat any rotator cuff injury right away. Even a minor tear can worsen over time if not given the chance to heal.
Prompt treatment can:
The overall goals of rotator cuff treatment are to alleviate pain and enhance shoulder strength. Recovery time can take anywhere from several weeks to several months and varies depending on the severity of the tear.
Most rotator cuff tears can't heal on their own. However, you can relieve pain and regain range of motion without surgery.
For minor tears, your doctor may suggest:
Once your symptoms have improved, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the rotator cuff and the surrounding muscles.
But in cases where the tear is severe or nonsurgical treatments don't give you relief, you may need surgery.
Many tears don't heal without surgery. Your doctor may also recommend surgical treatment if you lead an active lifestyle and engage in overhead activities or sports.
Several surgical options are available, ranging from open surgery to less invasive techniques. Your orthopaedic surgeon will consider your pain level and the severity of the tear when making a treatment recommendation.
After rotator cuff surgery, you should expect a slow return to normal. You might need to wear a sling for about four to six weeks to limit shoulder movement and help with recovery. Physical therapy will also help you regain strength and restore your range of motion.
