Rotator
Cuff Injury Faqs
1. What is the rotator cuff?
2. What kind of symptoms does a patient have
when the rotator cuff is injured? 3. What
are causes of a rotator cuff injury? 4.
How do I treat a rotator cuff injury?
5. What are the types of rotator tear injuries?
1. What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of flat tendons which fuse
together and surround the front, back, and top of the
shoulder joint. These tendons are connected individually to
short muscles that originate from the scapula. The muscles
contract pulling on the rotator cuff tendon and causing the
shoulder to rotate.
Back to Top 2. What
kind of symptoms does a patient have when the rotator cuff
is injured?
The most common complaint is aching located in the top and
front of the shoulder. The pain is usually increased when
the arm is lifted overhead. Depending on the severity of the
injury, there may also be weakness in the arm and, with some
complete rotator cuff tears, the arm cannot be lifted in the
forward or outward direction at all.
Back to Top 3. What
are causes of a rotator cuff injury?
This injury may be caused by an injury, fall, or accident.
It may happen when you fall and try to break your fall with
your hand out. Throwing, heavy lifting, or falling on your
shoulder may also cause this injury. Frequent use of the
hands in the overhead position can weaken the rotator cuff
and eventually lead to tears in the tendons. Rotator cuff
injuries are common in baseball, tennis, football, and
skiing.
Back to Top 4. How do
I treat a rotator cuff injury?
You should do the following:
- First, seek medical attention.
- An x-ray may need to be taken of the injured shoulder.
- Wear a sling to keep the shoulder from moving and
promote healing.
- Put ice on the injured shoulder to help with pain and
swelling.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be taken for pain. Do not
take ibuprofen if you are allergic to aspirin.
- Surgery may be needed to fix the torn rotator cuff.
Back to Top
5. What are the types of rotator tear
injuries?
Types of injuries include:
- A traumatic tear is a direct blow to the shoulder, a
fall onto an outstretched hand, or a dislocated shoulder
joint that results in a tear of one of the rotator cuff
tendons.
- A degenerative tear is the process of natural wear
and tear that breaks down the strength and flexibility
of the rotator cuff tendons. A degenerative tear can
lead to a complete rupture of one of the tendons.
Back to Top For more information, please see our Rotator
Cuff Injury Page. Contact us online through our FREE
personal injury evaluation form if you have any questions
about your claim.
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