If you've ever had a shoulder injury, you know just how painful and inconvenient they can be.
The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint supported by a network of muscles and tendons known as the rotator cuff. This allows us full range of movement of the upper arm while providing stability to the shoulder joint itself. When you have a strain or tear of one or more of the supporting muscles or tendons of the rotator cuff, it can cause pain and decreased range of motion.
As we age rotator cuff injuries become more common. Tears can be partial or complete and often require surgical repair followed by physical therapy. Types of injuries or tears to the rotator cuff are usually diagnosed with the use of CT scan or MRI ordered by your doctor. The surgical repair, if needed, is usually done by an orthopedic surgeon.
Rotator Cuff Tear