From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders- Jacques Yves Cousteau

The shoulder joint is a very complex joint of the body, which gives the arm extraordinary freedom of movement. This complexity of the joint also makes it very vulnerable to injury, and when injuries occur, the lack of mobility in this critical joint can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable. If you suffer from shoulder pain, you may have heard about rotator cuff injuries, their discomfort and complications.

Your rotator cuff consists of the muscles and tendons in your shoulder that connect the humerus with the shoulder blade (scapula). The rotator cuff holds your humerus firmly in the shoulder socket. The term “rotator cuff injury” can mean many different things and includes any type of irritation or damage to your rotator cuff muscles or tendons. In contrast, most of the injury in the rotator cuff may need to be treated. About half the time, rotator cuff injuries can heal with physiotherapy. However, surgery is sometimes required to eliminate injuries. If you or someone you love has a rotator cuff, you must understand the different types of rotator cuff tears, symptoms, and treatment options.

Rotator cuff pain is one of the most common shoulder problems in adults. If shoulder pain keeps you away from daily activities, make an appointment with a shoulder specialist Dr Chandrasekhar. B, Rotator Cuff Repair Surgeon in Hyderabad. He will help you determine the cause of your pain and make a plan that will help you heal and strengthen your shoulders so you can do the things you love more.

This article provides information about rotator cuff injury and types of rotator cuff injuries.

What is a rotator cuff?

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder joint in place. The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder joint and helps move the shoulder. The four muscles (and tendons) that make up the rotator cuff are:

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Subscapular
• The teres minor.

Each muscle attaches to the shoulder with a thick tendon (a strip of fibrous tissue). Some of the rotator cuff’s actions are, rotating the upper arm toward the body (internal rotation) and moving away from the body (external rotation) and helping to lift the arm (abduction).

An injury that is more suitable for tearing a cuff is an injury where you push your arm up (eccentric force) or when you try to jerk lift off the shoulder suddenly (concentric force).

What are the symptoms of rotator cuff tear?

The most common symptoms of rotator cuff tears are listed below. However, the symptoms may look different. Symptoms can include:

• Recurring pain especially during certain activities
• Pain that prevents you from sleeping on the injured side
• Grating or crackling sounds when you move your hand
• Limited ability to move arms
• Muscle weakness

The symptoms of a rotator cuff fracture can mimic other conditions or medical problems. Always talk to the Best Shoulder Surgeon about a diagnosis.

Types Of Rotator Cuff Injuries:

Rotator cuff tears can range from small to large. One or more of your tendons in the rotator cuff can be torn if you continue to work and don’t treat injuries. Then tears can worsen. You must receive proper care so that your rotating cuff works optimally. Rotator cuff injuries can be acute (traumatic) or chronic (persistent) injuries that occur over time. Below are some of the various types of injuries that could cause a rotator cuff tear:

• Acute trauma: Out of all rotator cuff injuries, this is the most common cause. Trying to lift something heavy with a lurching motion or falling from a height can cause the acute rotator cuff to tear.
• Chronic injury: Rotator cuffs are often torn due to worn down. And this wear comes from repetitive stress, usually caused by hand movements related to sports such as tennis, weight lifting, swimming, rowing and baseball, or by work such as carpentry and painting.
• Degenerative injuries or General Wear and Tear: Older people tend to tear easily on rotator cuffs. Like muscles, your rotator cuff loses its vitality as you age. Various factors contribute to chronic or degenerative rotator cuffs. They include:
  • Repeated stress: Repeating the same shoulder movements over and over can cause tension in the muscles and tendons of your rotator cuff. Examples include sports such as weight lifting and tennis, as well as certain routines and activities with excessive use and stress.
  • Lack of blood supply: Blood supply to the rotator cuff tendon decreases with age. If you do not have an adequate blood supply, your body’s natural ability to repair damaged tendons is disrupted, which can cause tendons to tear.

Bone spurs: As we age, bone spurs often develop in the lower acromion bone. When you raise your hand, these spurs begin to rub against the rotator cuff tendons known as shoulder impingement. In the shoulder, tendons weaken over time and tear is more likely.

• Tendinitis: Tendinitis is an irritation or inflammation of a tendon that is connected to the bone. This causes pain in the area outside the joint. Shoulder tendinitis is a repetitive motion injury that often occurs in athletes who practice above-ground sports such as swimming, tennis, and volleyball.
• Bursitis: Bursitis is when your bursa, a small bag of fluid that protects your rotator cuff, becomes irritated. Bursitis is inflammation or irritation of the fluid-filled sac (bursa) between the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff tendon. It can happen if you repeat the same movements repeatedly, e.g. Lift something above your head or throw a baseball. Infection can also cause bursitis.
• Strain or tear of the tendon: With sudden injury or repetitive movements, a total or partial tear in your tendon can occur. If left untreated, tendinitis can also cause tendon tear. A rotator cuff causes weakness, pain and the inability to move the arm freely with various movements. Lifting and rotating arms can also be painful during overhead activity. 
• Shoulder Impingement: Shoulder Impingement is a common cause of shoulder pain and occurs when your rotator cuff catches or rubs your shoulder bones. This causes constant pain until your tendons are injured and start to swell. If left untreated, shoulder impingement can cause the rotator cuff to tear.

Rotator cuff diagnosis and repair:

If you suffer from rotator cuff tear and continue to use it even though the pain is increasing, you can damage it even further. Cracks in the rotator cuffs can become larger over time. Chronic arm and shoulder pain is a good reason to contact Shoulder surgeon. You can prevent symptoms from getting worse by getting early treatment. It can also help you get back to your routine faster.

The purpose of this treatment is to relieve pain and restore function. There are several ways to treat rotator cuff tears, and the best choices are different for everyone. When making your treatment plan, a doctor will take into account your age, general health, activity level, and the type of rupture you have. The diagnosis of rotator cuffs involves one or more of the following:

• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• MRI( Magnetic resonance imaging)

Treatment or Repair:

Primary care includes the best possible pain treatment and functional recovery. This can include resting the shoulders from burdensome activities, taking anti-inflammatory medication, as well as special exercises and physiotherapy.

Corticosteroid injections with local anaesthesia are useful in some cases when other conservative treatments do not help. Surgery may be needed in patients with massive or complete rupture, especially if they are young or if they have persistent symptoms or significant weakness and poor function.

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Conclusion:

People with rotator cuff injuries usually recover well with treatment. However, it is common to hurt the same shoulder again, especially if you don’t change the way you use your shoulder. Older people tend to have rotator cuff problems and find it more difficult to recover because their shoulders have less blood supply.

The prognosis for rotator cuff injuries depends on the type of injury, so it’s better to know the type of rotator cuff injuries. Dr Chandra Sekhar. B says that half of the cuff injuries are repaired through exercise and home care. This intervention removes pain and promotes freedom of movement. In the event of severe damage to the rotator cuff, shoulder strength can only be increased if the injury is repaired surgically. For more information and the best rotator cuff injury Treatment at Hyderabad Contact Dr Chandra Sekhar. B at  9959588389 and book your appointment.