What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis) that attach from the shoulder blade to the top of the arm and collectively act to improve the stability of the shoulder (Vollans & Ali, 2016).
What is a rotator cuff injury?
Rotator cuff injuries are a common compliant with most people over the age of 40 showing signs on imaging (Girish et al., 2011). A rotator cuff injury is any change within the muscle or tendon of any of the cuff muscles that results in varying degrees of pain and weakness(Vollans & Ali, 2016). It is typically aggravated by activates that include reaching, elevating the arm and even lifting.
What causes a rotator cuff injury?
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors are said to combine and contribute to rotator cuff injuries however it is often caused through repetitive use of the shoulder or in response to a spike in activity (Pandey & Jaap Willems, 2015). Occasionally, rotator cuff injuries can be caused by acute trauma such as a trip or fall. People with rotator cuff injuries often report pain on the side of the shoulder and even the arm.
What can I do to get better?
Physiotherapy is generally considered the first line treatment for the management of rotator cuff injuries with a structured and tailored exercise program often being the best approach (Lewis, 2016). Manual therapy, load management strategies, postural re-training, motor control exercises and postural awareness may also help to reduce pain and improve function (Lewis, McCreesh, Roy, & Ginn, 2015).
How can we help?
The team at Enhance Physiotherapy are will equipped to treat and manage rotator cuff injuries with their up to date evidence-based knowledge, advanced clinical skills and elite strength and conditioning facilities.
