If you’ve ever experienced a rotator cuff injury, you’ll know the obvious – they are no fun. Even a partial cuff tear can make it exceedingly difficult and painful to do basic motions with your arm like raising and moving it. You could also experience excruciating arm and shoulder pain.

Unfortunately, these injuries can become increasingly common as you age.

Luckily, there are a number of remedies to consider – from pain relievers and physical therapy to simple, good old-fashioned rest. Others may need to explore more robust options such as comprehensive surgery to reattach their torn rotator cuff.

Let’s level-set with a review – the rotator cuff is made up of your muscles and tendons in your shoulder. They play the basic role of helping to lift your arms away from your body. A cuff tear takes place when your tendons pull away from the arm bone; it may often be a result of overuse or another injury.

You’ll generally find that you experience two types of torn rotator cuffs – partial and complete. With a partial tear, the tendon will still somewhat attach to the arm bone. With a complete cuff, on the other hand, the tendon separates completely from the bone, with a hole or rip in the tendon itself.

These tears are actually quite common, affecting as many as two million Americans each year of all ages and backgrounds. The challenge, however, is certainly more prevalent in adults as they age. This is especially true of adults over 40, who can see their tendon wear down over time with more wear, tear, and usage.

What Causes Rotator Cuff Injuries?

The causes can be chalked up to anything as mundane as a fall that causes a dislocated shoulder or broken collarbone.

Virtually anyone can find themselves experiencing a tear at some point, but you are especially susceptible if you fall into the category of a few factors, which can include:

• Poor posture and slouching
• Smoking and other risky behaviors
• A family history of similar rotor cuff injuries or shoulder problems

In addition, some adults – especially those over 40 – are especially at risk if they regularly perform repetitive shoulder movements. These can include many adults in trade occupations, such as carpenters, mechanics, and painters.

It can also be a rare downside for those who go on to careers in professional sports like baseball, softball, or tennis.

While tears generally occur in one side – whichever side and shoulder is dominant – it can also increase the likelihood that you will experience a tear in the opposite shoulder as well.

Symptoms to be on the lookout for include challenges raising your arm, popping or clicking sounds when moving your arm about, shoulder weakness, and sudden challenges in lifting items with the strength and vigor that you have been accustomed to over time.

If you’re experiencing some of these tell-tale signs of pain in your shoulder and seeking solutions for how to more effectively cope, contact our team at East Coast Injury. You’ll benefit from our extensive knowledge and experience in treating others who have come through our doors with similar injuries. Our goal is to help get you back on the street and back to your life. You can learn more about our services and how to contact us at https://eastcoastinjury.com/.