Rotator Cuff Specialist

Rotator Cuff Q & A

What is the rotator cuff?

The rotator cuff is a collection of muscles and tendons that connects your humerus or upper arm bone to your shoulder blade, as well as a fluid-filled sac called a bursa.

Your rotator cuff enables you to make a wide range of movements with your shoulder joint, including as the name suggests, being able to rotate your arm in a circle.

What injuries can affect my rotator cuff?

The most common type of injury to the rotator cuff is a tear, where one or several of the tendons that make up your rotator cuff overstretch and the fibers separate, detaching from the top of your humerus. Rotator cuff tears are quite common, causing pain and weakness in the arm and shoulder on the affected side.

Rotator cuff tears can occur because of:

• Vigorous exercise
• Sporting activities
• Falling onto an outstretched arm
• Lifting heavy weights with a jerk

It’s not uncommon to fracture a collarbone or dislocate the shoulder joint at the same time as tearing the rotator cuff.

Rotator cuff tears also happen when degenerative changes that take place as you age affect your blood supply, which reduces your natural healing abilities. You can also develop a condition called shoulder impingement, where bone spurs that develop on your shoulder joint because of degenerative joint disease or arthritis irritate the tissues of your rotator cuff.

Degenerative problems are more likely to affect the rotator cuff if you use your shoulder in a repetitive manner over long periods, like if you play baseball or tennis, or you regularly lift weights or go rowing. If your job involves making repetitive arm movements, that can also cause rotator cuff damage.

How are rotator cuff tears treated?

Rotator cuff tears are likely to deteriorate over time if left untreated, so if you have pain and weakness in your shoulder, it’s important to visit Orthopedic Specialists as soon as possible. Your physician can assess the degree of damage to the rotator cuff and any additional problems in the shoulder joint, and prescribe appropriate treatment. Treatment options include:

• Rest and avoiding the activities that worsen the pain
• Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy
• Cortisone injections
• Stem cell therapy

If your rotator cuff injury doesn’t respond to these treatments, or the damage is too extensive, surgery could be the best option. Fortunately, rotator cuff procedures are a particular area of expertise for the surgeons at Orthopedic Specialists.  Additionally, minimally invasive treatment called superior capsular reconstruction for an un-repairable rotator cuff are available.

If you have pain in your shoulder and restricted movement or have been told you need joint replacement surgery for a rotator cuff problem, call Orthopedic Specialists or schedule a consultation online today.