A rotator cuff injury may be tendinitis, bursitis, or a tear of the muscles and tendons that support the shoulder. Changes and swelling in tissue can also increase pressure in the joint. Raising the arm to shoulder height can pinch tendons and other tissue. It can cause pain called impingement.
A rotator cuff injury can take 2 to 6 months or longer to fully heal.
It may be caused by:
This problem is more common in people aged 40 years and older. Other things that may raise your risk are:
The injury may cause:
The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. An exam will be done. The shoulder will be checked.
Images of the shoulder may be done with:
The problem is treated based on the level of injury. Options are:
Initial care may be:
Corticosteroids may be injected into the joint. It can quickly relieve pain and swelling. However, there are some risks to this treatment. It cannot be used often. The injection may only be used to treat pain that is severe or not going away with basic treatment.
Exercises may be recommended to improve shoulder strength. This may prevent future injuries.
Bones, tendons, and muscles may need to be repaired with surgery. An arthroscopy is done through small incisions. The doctor will be able to see the joint and repair areas as needed. Larger fractures or injuries may need open surgery for repair. Recovery will take longer with open surgery.
To lower the chances of this injury:
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org
Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
The University of British Columbia Department of Orthopaedics
http://orthopaedics.med.ubc.ca
Matthewson G, Beach CJ, Nelson AA, et al. Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: Current Concepts. Adv Orthop. 2015;2015:458786.
Rotator cuff tear. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/rotator-cuff-tear. Accessed September 19, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Teresa Briedwell, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS