An injury of any sort causes the sufferer to miss out on the sports they love and even become unable to perform the simplest tasks. Apart from the pain associated with a tear in the rotator cuffs, when it happens, you may experience significant discomfort when you try to move your arm.
This article will discuss a rotator cuff tear, symptoms you may feel, causes, and risk factors associated with rotator cuff tears.
What is a Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff is a group of muscles surrounding your shoulder, and they are connected to the humerus by tendons. They are responsible for holding your upper arm within the socket of your shoulder.
A rotator cuff tear occurs when one or more tendons detaches from the humerus; thus, each time you move your arm, you experience pain. Additionally, the pain only worsens when you move your arm away from your body, and if you don’t get physiotherapy in Singapore, your situation may worsen.
Types of Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Tendinitis is caused by the overuse of the rotator cuff.
- Bursitis is caused by inflammation in the sacs that sit between the rotator cuff and the underlying bone.
- Rotator strains or tears are caused by overuse of the rotator cuff or an injury
Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tears
Here are the common symptoms associated with rotator cuff tears:
- A dull pain deep in your shoulder that worsens when you move your hand
- Disturbed sleep due to the pain especially if you lie on your arm
- If you cannot reach behind your back
- Arm weakness
Causes and Risk Factors of Rotator Cuff Tears
Sadly the human body goes through tears and wears as we age. Therefore rotator cuff tears are more common among the elderly than it is among younger people. That is why rotator cuff tears are common among older adults who are 60 years and older. Additionally, the occupation you are in can make you more vulnerable to rotator cuff tears. Thus people in the construction industry and other industries that involve heavy lifting and overusing the arms frequently suffer from rotator cuff tears.
Repetitive overhead activities also contribute to rotator cuff tears, as moving your arm repeatedly for a prolonged period irritates the rotator cuff and may lead to injury.
Like many other ailments such as back pain in Singapore and knee pain, there is also a genetic component involved in rotator cuff tears. Therefore if you experience a torn rotator cuff, often check your family history.
Prevention
If you have had a rotator cuff injury in the past, it is crucial to prevent reinjury, so incorporate shoulder strengthening exercises into your routine. Additionally, ensure that you exercise both the front muscles of the chest and shoulder and the back muscles to prevent re-injuring the rotator cuff.
Conclusion
Although a rotator cuff injury may cause only mild pain, it can make you uncomfortable and unable to do simple tasks like combing your hair. So do not hesitate to talk to a doctor or your physical therapist about why you are experiencing rotator cuff injuries and how to prevent them.
