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Rotator cuff injury
The rotator cuff muscles control rotation of the shoulder. These muscles are put under a great deal of strain, especially in throwing events and racket sports where your arm is above your head a lot. Repetitive strain on the rotator cuff can lead to acute or chronic inflammation (tendinitis) in the area. And such repetitive use can lead to microtears to the muscles in the cuff which, over time and more repetitions, can progress to a full-thickness tear. A violent injury - for example during a rugby tackle - can also tear the cuff.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain when you bend the arm and rotate it outwards against resistance
- Pain on the outside of the shoulder, which might also travel down the arm
- Night pain in the case of severe inflammation and tears
- Stiffness in the shoulder joint
- Pain worsened by overhead activity.
How is it treated?
Your doctor may recommend an X-ray or ultrasound to access the extent of the damage. Treatments for rotator cuff injury include:
- Resting and applying ice wrapped in a cloth. This may be used to reduce the initial inflammation. Never apply ice directly to the skin
- Anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen or diclofenac)
- Steroid injections. These are sometimes used for more serious injury and pain
- Rehabilitation of the joint by applying heat to the shoulder, physiotherapy and exercises
- Surgery. If you are suffering from a full-thickness tear in the rotator cuff, it is likely that you will need surgery (acromioplasty and rotator cuff repair)
Sources
The following sources were used to write this article:
- Virtual Sports Clinic - Rotator Cuff Injury
- Wolin PM, Tarbet JA. Rotator Cuff Injury: Addressing Overhead Overuse. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 1997; 25(6).
- Tendinitis/Rotator Cuff Tears in Oxford Handbook of Sports Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1998 (Eds. Sherry E, Wilson F) p254.
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