A Guide on a Rotator Cuff Tear

A rotator cuff tear is a rupture to one of the rotator cuff tendons. Most often the tendon is torn where it attaches to the upper arm bone or the Humeral Head of the Humerus.

There are four rotator cuff muscles each with a tendon attaching to the Humerus. A tear occurs most often in the Supraspinitus tendon.

Rotator cuff tears are classified as either partial or full thickness. In the case of a partial tear the tendon is damaged but that damage does no extend completely through the tendon. A full thickness tear however extends through the whole tendon that can also be torn away from the bone.

What causes a rotator cuff tear?

There are two distinct types of tear:

1. Chronic Tear - an injury with a gradual onset over time
2. Acute tear - caused by an identifiable trauma or accident

Acute tears

Acute tears can have many different causes. Accidents such as car crashes, slips, trips or falls and tears caused when lifting heavy weights. Acute tears are the most common form in those aged under 40.

Chronic tears

Chronic tears are associated with a number of factors:

1. Gradual weakening of the tendons
2. Overuse
3. Impingement
4. Poor blood supply
5. Advancing age

A fairly common sequence of events has been established:

1. The older we are the less we use our shoulders
    
2. The rotator cuff muscles and tendons gets weaker
    
3. Shoulder becomes unstable
    
4. Humeral head is allowed to ride up
    
5. The rotator cuff becomes squashed (impinged)
    
6. Tendons become gradually weaker
    
7. A tear occurs

Often the cause is not so clearly defined. An acute tear often happens because of underlying chronic conditions.

For example a person with a gradually weakening rotator cuff suffers a minor trauma such as a fall. The fall would be unlikely to cause any damage to a healthy rotator cuff but because of the underlying problems a tear results.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that are regularly reported. Everyone is different so you may experience some but not necessarily every typical rotator cuff symptom.

• Pain - this can vary enormously
• Muscle weakness
• Grating, cracking or catching noises and sensations
• Limited range of arm movement
• Night pain affecting sleep patterns

Diagnosis

A tear can often be diagnosed by a physician. Obtaining a detailed medical history of the shoulder and performing a physical examination should be enough. If a more comprehensive diagnosis is required, options such as Xray, Ultrasound, Mri and Arthroscopy are available.

Rotator Cuff Treatment

Treatment of a rotator cuff tear is best done naturally. Unless you are under 40 and have suffered a large acute tear then the best treatment will be by exercise.

Surgery is seldom the first option unless you happen to fit into this category. Physical Therapy exercises for rotator cuff injury treatment are the sensible first choice. Why? Because they work!

Just as importantly if you have to undergo surgery, you will have to go through the same rehabilitation program anyway. Therefore, it surely makes sense to go for the healthy, natural, safest and cheapest alternative first to treat your rotator cuff tear, right?

Join me here to learn more about a rotator cuff tear.

Steve Kaiser has used exercise to treat his own rotator cuff symptoms. Learn how you could do the same at Rotator Cuff Therapy Exercises.

Click here for more information and articles by Steve Kaiser

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