A Rotator Cuff Tear is a Common Injury
If you play sports like baseball or tennis, or if you have a job with repetitive arm motions, you may experience a rotator cuff tear at some point in your life.
Your rotator cuff is not a singular muscle, it’s a group of muscles and tendons that keep your shoulder joint stabilized and allow you to lift and rotate your arms. There are 2 kinds of rotator cuff tears. A partial tear and a complete one. The difference is whether the tendon is just damaged, or has pulled away from the bone. Either way, it’s painful!
How Do You Know You Have a Rotator Cuff Tear
- Have trouble raising your arm
- Feel pain when you move your arm in certain ways or lie on it
- Have weakness in your shoulder
- Be unable to lift things like you normally do
- Hear clicking or popping when you move your arm
If you have any of these ailments, please be sure to see your medical professional for an exam. This may include an MRI, X-Rays or untrasound to determine the extent of the injury. Physical therapy, exercises and mild anti-inflammatory medicine may be prescribed. In severe cases, surgery is required. You may want to have a consultation with a chiropractor because we specialize in non-surgical treatment of spinal and joint issues. Our treatment options may consist of ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and heat and ice treatments, in addition to physical therapy. Specific upper cervical or full spine adjustments and targeted exercises may ease pain, restore mobility and increase range of movement. Typically, six to eight weeks of treatment will allow patients to resume normal activities.
A new study found that rotator cuff tears could be predicted by the position of the shoulder (subacromial space). If you or someone you know suffers with shoulder pain check out this video explaining how chiropractic care restores proper shoulder alignment and function.