Four muscles make up the group of muscles called the rotator cuff that help to keep the top of the arm in place in the shoulder joint. If we didn't have them you would find your shoulder joint dislocating each time that you tried lifting anything. All four of these muscles connect to the shoulder blade or scapula at one end and the upper arm or humerus at the other and surround the shoulder forming a cuff of muscle around the shoulder joint, hence the name.
The rotator cuff is the name for a group of four muscles that hold the top of the humerus in place in the socket of the shoulder joint. If we didn't have them the shoulder would simply dislocate each time that you tried lifting anything. All these muscles are connected to the scapula or shoulder blade at one end and the humerus or upper arm bone at the other and form a cuff around the shoulder joint, which is how they got their name.
If one or more of these muscles gets torn you have a rotator cuff tear either through too much pressure being put on them or through wear and tear caused by overuse or just old age. One comparison I have heard is that of comparing the rotator cuff muscles to an old car tow rope. If you try pulling something that is too heavy the rope can tear or snap and if you have been using the same tow rope for several years it can start to fray through use.
Cuff Tears sometimes come about through a sudden trauma. If, for example, you fall and put your arm out to catch yourself the sudden load can tear the muscle. Lifting something heavy could have the same effect but the damage would be different as the load is likely to be added more evenly and gradually. The muscles and tendons can also just wear out through repeated use either through age or because a work or leisure activity over uses the muscle. Anyone who throws a baseball repeatedly is putting strain on these muscles. Any repetitive overhead action like painting can have teh same effect.
A tear in the rotator cuff has specific symptom such as weakness in the arm, pain when doing certain movements, especially reaching up or behind you. The test for a tear will usually involve getting someone to gently push against the doctor's hand whilst mimicking these movements; if this causes pain then you probaly have a torn rotator cuff.
Treatment can vary depending on the age of the person and the size of the tear. Small or short tears are easier to repair and may only need anti-inflammatory drugs and gentle shoulder specific exercise, whilst larger tears may involve keyhole surgery to fix the tear or free up space for the inflamed muscle to move more easily reducing or eliminating pain altogether.
The younger you are when you have surgery the greater the success rate. As you get older the success rate of shoulder surgery can drop to around 60%. It is sometimes worth thinking about what you see as a successful outcome. Obviously, if you are a serious sportsperson the best outcome would be a return to total fitness. On the other hand, if you lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle the aim may be to be able to carry out certain everyday tasks and movements pain free.
Rotator cuff tears come in all shapes and sizes and so they can vary quite considerably in treatment and prognosis. Physical Therapy will be involved in any treatment but it needs to be rotator cuff specific exercises aimed at strengthening and exercising the group of muscles without making things worse.
Rotator Cuff Strengthening is As Easy As X Y Z
Rotator cuff strengthening exercises are the secret of shoulder health and strength, whether you are trying to get stronger shoulders, recover from an injury or avoid injury.
Simple Shoulder Exercises Changed My Life In Just A Couple of Months
It seems hard to believe but shoulder exercises helped me to get fit and lose weight or should I say helped me get back in shape.
A Rotator Cuff Repair Might Be Easier Than You Thought
Rotator cuff problems are one of the most common injuries. Eight million Americans will visit their doctor with a shoulder injury this year and most of them will be for rotator cuff related injuries.
