What is Rotator Cuff Injury
Rotator cuff injury is a common shoulder pain seen by physiotherapist and doctors
Rotator cuff is made up of a group of four muscles (the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor) and their tendons. It plays a important role in keeping your shoulder joint stable. Tendons wrap around your shoulder joint, forming a cuff around the ball of your humerus.
Types of Rotator Cuff Injury
Rotator cuff tendonitis: if the tendons of your rotator cuff become inflamed The tendons can become pinched against one of the other structures that make up shoulder joint.
Impingement syndrome: when a rotator cuff tendon becomes trapped or squeezed
Calcific rotator cuff tendonitis: Calcium is sometimes deposited in your rotator cuff tendons if they are inflamed for a long period of time. The tendons become ‘calcified’.
Bursitis: subacromial bursa can become inflamed.
Rotator cuff tear : This is when one or more of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons become completely or partially torn. It may be a result of trauma, such as a fall, or due to tiny tears in the tendon caused by use and wear over time. It may also be caused by impingement syndrome.
What causes rotator cuff injuries?
– Lifint or pulling an object, either too heavy or wrong technique
– Injury or fall, causing to land on an outstretched hand
– Age: increased risk of rotator cuff injuries as wear and tear with age
– Sports with repetitive overhead motions with arms: swimming, weight lifting, playing racquet sports, cricket, baseball
– Job hazards: such as painting, decorating, window cleaning
Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury
– pain and tenderness in shoulder (this may extend down your arm too), particularly when you raise your arm out to the side, reach behind you or lift or pull a heavy weight
– pain at night, especially when you sleep on the affected side
– a feeling of shoulder weakness
– unable to move shoulder freely
Depending on the type of injury you have, the pain may come on gradually (common if you have tendonitis) or you may have sudden twinges of pain (common if you have a tear).
Effective treatments that can help rotator cuff shoulder pain
The treatment of shoulder pain will entirely depends on the cause of shoulder problem. All conditions are different, and treatments may differ from each individual.
Treatment for rotator cuff shoulder pain may consists of:
– Physiotherapy: Your physiotherapist will understand about your shoulder pain and perform physical examinations. Your shoulder conditions will be diagnose and explain before implementing solutions to your shoulder
– Manual therapy: Active and Passive Mobilisation or manipulation of joints (Glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, Sternoclavicular Joint, and Scapulothoracic joint).
– Massage Therapy: Hands on techniques such as soft tissue release, deep friction massage, myofascial release, trigger points release
– Pain Relief Therapy: Using pain relief treatment modalities such as Ultrasound , electrical stimulation, TENS, laser, heat therapy
– Shockwave Therapy: Advanced high energy pulses effective for chronic, persistent shoulder muscle tightness, trigger points to stimulate healing. Proven treatment for tendonitis, calcification/ bone spurs
– Exercise Therapy: Guided 1-1 specific stretching and progressive strengthening shoulder muscles and joints, conditioning back to sports
– Education: Advice to improve posture, lifestyle modifications
Our unique treatment approach for shoulder pain
At heal360 Physioclinic, our physiotherapist and rehabilitation therapist experts has developed a proprietary signature program for the shoulder pain –PainRelief360™ Program
Our therapist will perform a thorough assessment and determine the potential cause of the shoulder problem, and will develop a management and best treatment program for your shoulder pain: relief pain, regain your shoulder movement and give you a renewed, stronger shoulder!
