What is “the rotator cuff”?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that attach the scapula (shoulder blade) to the upper arm via tendons. Its job is to provide extra support to the shoulder joint, which is shallow in nature, and keep it within the socket/joint while allowing efficient shoulder movement in various directions. Soreness in the shoulder is often caused by injury to one or more of these muscles.
"Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain" is a term that describes a range of shoulder conditions including subacromial pain (impingement) syndrome, bursitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, and symptomatic partial and full-thickness rotator cuff tears. This type of shoulder pain is a common occurrence affecting millions of people worldwide and can be caused by various factors including trauma, muscle weakness, poor posture, occupational dispositions, age-related degenerative changes, smoking, diabetes, or thyroid dysfunction.
Rotator Cuff injuries can take weeks to months to resolve, but improvement is achievable with appropriate exercise and advice from a Chartered physiotherapist. Physiotherapists can help figure out why the shoulder is causing pain and come up with an individual plan to get the patient back on track. The first step is usually to calm down the pain, regain the range of motion, and then focus on increasing the strength of the shoulder.
If a person undergoes a rotator cuff repair operation, in which the surgeon stitches the torn tendon back together, they can expect to be in a sling for several weeks followed by 16+ weeks of rehabilitation. Signs and symptoms of a torn rotator cuff include pain when lifting the arm out to the side and overhead, night pain, and the inability to lie on that shoulder.
If anyone is experiencing shoulder pain, they can call us here at Ultimate Physio and we can educate you and provide suitable exercises to help with recovery.
