What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?
Muscles and tendons that keep the shoulder in place form the rotator cuff. A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of shoulder pain and disability among adults. Generally, an injury to the rotator cuff may come from the degeneration of the rotator cuff tissues or be due to a specific incident like a fall. Certain repeated arm movements may also be a cause.
This tear is common in sports and your risk of getting a rotator cuff tear increases with age. A torn rotator cuff weakens your shoulder, which means that certain daily activities such as getting dressed or washing your hair may become painful and difficult to do.
The types of rotator cuff tears include:
- Partial Tear: With this type of tear, the tendons do not fully detach from the bones. The tendon is still attached to the bone but it is thinned.
- Full Thickness Tear: This type of tear involves the detachment of the tendon from the bones.
What are the symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tear?
Some common symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tear includes:
- Persistent pain when moving arm over the head and similar actions
- Shifting from sleeping on injured side because of pain
- Limited movement in the arm
- Cracking or grating sounds from arm movement (Crepitis)
- Pain like a dull ache
- Muscle weakening
Not all rotator cuff tears will cause pain but arm weakness and other symptoms may still be seen. Tears that happen suddenly due to a sharp fall usually result in intense pain and immediate weakness in your upper arm.
What causes Rotator Cuff Tear?
There are two main causes of rotator cuff tear, acute and degenerative.
- Acute (Injury-related): This type of tear occurs when you have an accident, such as if you fall down on your outstretched arm or lift something too heavy with a jerking motion.
- Degenerative (Wear-related): Most tears are the result of a wearing down of the tendon that occurs slowly over time. This happens naturally as we age and in most cases, is relatively painless. Degenerative rotator cuff tears are more common in the dominant arm and may be affected by repetitive stress or a lack of blood supply as we age.
What are the risk factors of Rotator Cuff Tear?
- Age: As most rotator cuff tears are largely caused by the normal wear and tear that goes along with aging, your risk of a Rotator Cuff Tear increases with age.
- Occupational risks: Certain jobs that require repetitive overhead arm motions such as carpentry may damage the rotator cuff over time.
- Certain sports: Rotator cuff injuries are more common in certain sports, such as tennis, baseball and weight-lifting
- Family history: You may be at a higher risk of a rotator cuff tear if someone in your family also suffers from the condition.
How do you prevent Rotator Cuff Tear?
To prevent rotator cuff tears, it is important to understand how they occur. Here are some steps you can take to avoid a rotator cuff tear:
- Warm up before exercising: Along with keeping your body in shape, regular exercise can also strengthen your rotator cuff. Be sure to warm up before starting with gentle stretches.
- Practice good posture: Your posture may affect your shoulder placement, making them more susceptible to rotator cuff injuries.
- Avoid repetitive overhead motions: Regular overhead movement may weaken your rotator cuff over time. You should speak to a specialist about ways to reduce stress on your shoulders if your occupation or hobbies requires you to constantly lift your arms.
- Don't ignore shoulder pains: As degenerative injuries develop over time, patients often ignore symptoms till it is too late. If you experience shoulder or back pain, seek a specialist to prevent a rotator cuff injury.
How is a Rotator Cuff Tear diagnosed?
An X-ray or MRI may be involved to capture images of tissues, organs, and bones. An ultrasound test can also be used to assess the movement of the shoulder’s structures.
A rotator cuff tear can be partial or full. A doctor’s physical examination and a health history check are also part of the diagnosis.
