You’d be surprised at how many people forget how important our shoulders are. We usually take them for granted, but our shoulders are responsible for countless functions. Reaching for shelves, washing dishes, and even combing our hair is impossible without them.
They’re vital for some of the most straightforward tasks in our lives. That’s why it’s funny how complicated most of these processes are. The rotator cuff is the core of all these tasks. It protects the joint while letting our arms reach above our heads.
What is the rotator cuff?
A rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles. They make up the head of our upper-arm bone within our shoulder socket. It enables our arms to rotate and raise, and as WebMD explains, the group includes four muscles.
- The Supraspinatus keeps the humerus in place and keeps stability in our upper arm.
- The Infraspinatus is responsible for extending and rotating the shoulder.
- The Teres Minor assists the Infraspinatus when rotating our arms away from our bodies.
- Finally, the Subscapularis holds our upper-arm bones and shoulder blades. It’s also responsible for arm rotation, straightening, and lowering.
What does it mean to get a rotator cuff tear?
Rotator cuff tears become more common as we age. Constant overhead motions make it more likely, so painters and similar jobs have increased risk. Of course, injuries can cause these tears. In these cases, physical therapy might not be enough.
Besides physical injuries, deterioration is the most common cause behind these tears. Tendons can also become irritated and damaged with prolonged activities, particularly lifting.
Additionally, some experts believe that genetics could play a role in the injury’s likelihood. Some families seem to get them more frequently.
How does it feel?
The initial pains when suffering from rotator cuff injuries include dull aching deep within the shoulder. It often results in general arm weakness, so combing your hair and similar tasks become more complex. It could also disrupt your sleep.
However, complications may arise without treatment. These include motion loss in the arm and progressive joint degeneration. Long-term immobilization can also make the joint thicken, thus “freezing” your shoulder.
Diagnosis
Healthline explains that physicians have plenty of physical tests to check if you have a rotator cuff tear. Some tests also rule out other injuries with similar implications. Most of these tests evaluate how hard it is to move the joint.
The most accurate imaging test is an MRI scan. That’s because it allows the practitioner to access a picture of your bone, the muscles around it, and its connective tissue to spot tears.
Prevention and treatment
Like with diagnosis, treatment can be physical or surgical. For mild cases, physical therapy, rest, and inflammation medication can relieve most of the symptoms while the body heals.
However, conservative methods might not always work. In these cases, surgery becomes necessary. Tears spanning more than three centimeters also require surgery. The approach depends on the case, but primarily focus on reattaching tendons and repairing the tear itself.
Surgery Concierge surgeons have performed thousands of rotator cuff repairs utilizing minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques.
Reach out for a free consultation from one of our experts.