Weakness, pain, or odd crunching sounds in your shoulder may indicate toward an injury of the rotator cuff–the group of muscles that hold your shoulder in its socket. Keep reading to learn about rotator cuff injuries to see if you have one.
What is a rotator cuff?
When we say you have a “torn rotator cuff,” it refers to you having a torn tendon in the shoulder. You have four tendons that connect your upper arm bone (the humerus) to your collarbone (the clavicle) and also the shoulder blade (the scapula). When one of these is injured either through repeated use or a quick injury, you can get pain or weakness in the shoulder.
Cause
There are two causes of a rotator cuff injury, generally speaking. The first is an injury due to a fall or accident of some kind. If you fall and break your collarbone, for example, one of the tendons may be torn in the process. Lifting something heavy very quickly can also lead to a rotator cuff tear. This kind of tear is referred to as an “acute tear.”
The other type of rotator cuff tear comes from repeated use. Many vocations require making repetitive movements, which can wear down our tendons over years. Pitchers, tennis players, painters, and carpenters all have an increased risk of rotator cuff injury. Think about it this way: if you make a lot of repetitive movements above your head, you have an increased risk of rotator cuff injury.
If you think you have a torn rotator cuff, call us today to schedule a consultation. We can help identify and offer you treatment options for a torn rotator cuff. If you want to get back to work fast, we can help.
