Muscles and tendons that keep the shoulder in place form the rotator cuff. A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of shoulder pain and disability among adults. Generally, an injury to the rotator cuff may come from the degeneration of the rotator cuff tissues or be due to a specific incident like a fall. Certain repeated arm movements may also be a cause.
This tear is common in sports and your risk of getting a rotator cuff tear increases with age. A torn rotator cuff weakens your shoulder, which means that certain daily activities such as getting dressed or washing your hair may become painful and difficult to do.
The types of rotator cuff tears include:
Some common symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tear includes:
Not all rotator cuff tears will cause pain but arm weakness and other symptoms may still be seen. Tears that happen suddenly due to a sharp fall usually result in intense pain and immediate weakness in your upper arm.
An X-ray or MRI may be involved to capture images of tissues, organs, and bones. An ultrasound test can also be used to assess the movement of the shoulder’s structures.
A rotator cuff tear can be partial or full. A doctor’s physical examination and a health history check are also part of the diagnosis.
