The rotator cuff is a composed of four tendons that work together to hold the humerus (arm bone) into the socket of the shoulder blade. The rotator cuff is used to lift up and rotate your arm and is responsible for providing the shoulder with the largest range of motion of any joint in the body.
Rotator cuff tears can be a:
- Partial tear, or slow wearing away of the tendon and muscle
- Full-thickness tear or complete tear and occurs when the tendon tears completely
And occur in two ways:
- Traumatic tears which occur with injuries
- A degenerative tear, which are most common and result from the slow wearing out of the tendon due to age or repetitive movements over time
Tears in the rotator cuff are common and cause significant pain. Daily activities such as washing or combing your hair or getting dressed may become painful and difficult.
The bursa is the part of the joint that provides lubrication to where the humerus and the shoulder blade meet. The bursa is often damaged or injured when rotator cuff injuries occur causing increased pain.
The most common treatment options for rotator cuff tears are:
- Physical Therapy
- Injections
- Surgery
If you or a loved one is suffering from shoulder pain or a possible rotator cuff tear, the physicians at Cedar Hill Pain and Rehab can help determine the cause and find a treatment plan that works for you and improves your quality of life.
To learn more about these therapy techniques and to find out if you’re a candidate, you can make an appointment with a physician at Cedar Hill Pain and Rehab by calling 972-291-9165 or click here.