Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in your shoulder. The cuff works hard for you, whether you’re swinging a tennis racket, reaching for something on a high shelf or brushing your hair. Your rotator cuff supports your arm’s ability to lift, rotate and move while keeping it stable in the shoulder socket.

A rotator cuff tear is a common injury that can make using your shoulder painful. It occurs when one or more of the tendons (the strong, fibrous tissue that attaches muscle to bone) are torn away from the upper arm bone.

People who use their shoulders often, including athletes and people who have physical jobs, can be prone to rotator cuff tears. Accidents, such as falling, can also lead to a rotator cuff tear. The injury is more common in people older than 40, but it can happen at any age.

A rotator cuff tear can get worse over time. That’s why it’s important to seek treatment as early as possible.

Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear

Signs that you may have an injured rotator cuff include:

• Shoulder pain when lifting your arm up overhead.
• Shoulder pain when you’re resting and at night, especially when trying to lie on the side of the affected shoulder.
• A cracking sensation when moving your shoulder.
• Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm.

Get relief from shoulder pain

Don’t let rotator cuff pain keep you from getting enough sleep or doing what you love. If you have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, see your primary care doctor. The injury can often be treated without surgery. Avoiding activities that cause shoulder pain, doing strengthening exercises or physical therapy, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers or corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation may be all you need to feel better.

If your shoulder pain doesn’t improve, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. This specialist may order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment options may include surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. In any case, the goal is to help return full range of motion to your shoulder so you can use it again without even thinking about it.

Your shoulder pain solution

We are here to help. If you are experiencing shoulder pain, contact one of our highly skilled orthopedic physicians.

Sources: Coffey Communications; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; UpToDate