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Rotator Cuff Tear

What's the Rotator Cuff & Why is it Connected to Shoulder Pain?

Do you feel a dull pain in your shoulder? Does the pain restrict your normal arm and shoulder movements? If this is the case, you may have suffered a rotator cuff tear.

Your shoulder mainly consists of three bones – the upper arm bone, the shoulder blade, and the collarbone. The arm is attached to the shoulder in a ball-and-socket joint, and it is kept in place with the help of the rotator cuff – a small group of muscles that cover the upper arm bone.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff muscles and tendons hold your upper arm bone in your shoulder socket. A hard fall, repetitive arm motions or problems with the structure of your shoulder can injure the rotator cuff.

PRP Therapy for Shoulder

If you have shoulder pain, platelet rich plasma therapy may help. It uses parts of your own blood to help your body heal itself. PRP can help your shoulder feel better and work better.

Causes of Pain

If you are suffering from shoulder pain, you may be experiencing either injury or degeneration to your rotator cuff muscles.

An acute tear occurs when you fall on an outstretched arm or hurt your shoulder in a fall. Other times, when you lift heavy objects with a jerking motion, it can cause a tear to your rotator cuff muscles. This group of muscles may also be impacted by other injuries like a dislocated shoulder or a broken collarbone.

A degenerative tear occurs when the rotator cuff muscles wear out over time. This type of tear is typically seen in the shoulder of the dominant arm. The wearing down of muscles over time can occur due to certain repeated motions, such as weight lifting, rowing, or other sports activities. People who have jobs that require them to overuse these muscles are also prone to tearing.

What are the Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury?

With a rotator cuff tear, you will most likely experience dull and aching pain on the affected shoulder. It becomes hard to lie down on the affected side while sleeping. Your arms are also generally affected by a rotator cuff injury. You may feel your arm’s weakness when performing certain day-to-day activities or when lifting or rotating your arm.

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Who is at Risk?

We often see athletes or sports people suffering from worn-out muscles, which makes it easier for the rotator cuff muscles to become injured. At the same time, people over the age of 40 are also at a greater risk of developing rotator cuff tears. Painters, carpenters, and people who perform lots of physical labor as part of their job may also develop shoulder injuries.

Aside from these, most cases of rotator cuff injuries are caused by a fall or sudden injury of the muscle group.

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Treatment for Rotator Cuff

When you come in to consult with our expert doctors, we advise you to either take an X-Ray, MRI, or ultrasound, to understand the extent of the injury better. Following this, a suitable treatment plan will be devised for you. Depending on the type of injury, you may receive either steroid injections or non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication to facilitate the repair. Our doctors will also prescribe early physical therapy to help promote the healing process.

Book an Appointment

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, weakness in your arms, or have suffered a bad fall recently, you may have injured your rotator cuff muscles. Book an appointment with us at Source Healthcare in Santa Monica, California, to identify the exact cause of your pain and receive a thorough, professional treatment.

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