When it comes to sports injuries, rotator cuff tears are one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, affecting the muscles and tendons in the shoulder.
The rotator cuff itself is a group of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint, with the tendons connecting your muscles to your bones. It’s an important part of the body because it keeps the shoulder stable and working as it should.
There are various different types of rotator cuff injury but the most common are tears, where one or more of the tendons or muscles either fully or partially tear. This can happen suddenly after you sustain an injury, or it can slowly develop over time through general wear and tear.
Tendinopathy is also a common rotator cuff issue, where some of the tendons become trapped between your shoulder blade and a bone at the top of your arm. The tendon can then tear as time goes on.
Symptoms of injuries of this kind include feeling weak when you lift or move your arm from the shoulder, a clicking or grating sound when moving or being unable to move your shoulder completely. You may also find that any pain you’re experiencing gets worse when you lift your arm or raise it above your head.
In terms of treatment, you have various options depending on the type of injury and its severity, as well as how active you are and your age. It may be necessary to have surgery in order to repair a tear, as they don’t usually heal by themselves. However, you can build strength in the shoulder and relieve your pain with non-surgical management.
Stretches and exercises can be done at home, for example, to help improve strength and mobility. If you think you may need any help in this regard, get in touch with us to discuss physiotherapy at our Maidenhead clinic.