Rotator Cuff Injuries: Shouldering the Burden
Steven McCune, PT, PES
Procore Physical Therapy P.C.
Each year, about 4 million people in the United States seek medical attention for shoulder pain, including impingement, partial thickness tears, and complete rotator cuff rupture.
The shoulder is the most versatile and mobile joint in the body, but these desirable features also cause it to be the most unstable and vulnerable to injury.
People of all ages and life styles are suffering injuries to their rotator cuff.
Certain life style factors seem to be driving up the number of shoulder patients that we see. You don't have to be a professional athlete to sustain a rotator cuff injury. With the majority of shoulder cases we see, poor posture is a risk factor in their pathology.
It's getting worse because we're living in a day and age where everything is on the laptop computer and cell phone...causing us to look down and round our shoulders. A rounded shoulder indicates poor strength and flexibility, making you more prone to injury.
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons which originate on the back of the shoulder blade, make their way through the shoulder, and attach to the upper arm.
Many of our little leaguers are playing baseball year round. If you don't rest the shoulder your more likely to encounter shoulder problems before graduating high school.
Rotator cuff injuries are far more common as people age. If we live long enough most of us will eventually have a rotator cuff condition.
Impingement in the shoulder can be the beginnings of a rotator cuff tear. Impingement often refers to the tendons of the cuff being compressed or pinched within the shoulder. If treated early, the damage from impingement can be minimized and even prevented. Consult your doctor and physical therapist to learn more.
Most people describe their rotator cuff disorder as vague shoulder pain, loss of strength, or the inability to use their arm normally. Any of these symptoms may indicate impingement, a partial thickness, or full thickness tear.
People with impingement or a partial thickness tear will respond favorably to treatment in about 2 months and get better within 6 months. The remainder of the people may require surgery for a more significant rotator cuff injury.
Recovery following rotator cuff surgery can be long and arduous. It will require several months for most people to gain moderate use of their arm. For a person whose job or sport demands overhead use, recovery could be 6 months to 1 year.
With the ongoing demands of most occupations, the increased intensity in many sports, and the poor posture encouraged by our computer culture, rotator cuff disorders will be common place.
We have learned a good deal about these injuries, and we are seeing a lot more people before they have a complete rotator cuff tear. Together we shall shoulder the burden of the rotator cuff injury.