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A rotator cuff comprises the muscles and tendons that support your shoulder joint. The most common reason for injury to the rotator cuff is trauma, such as falling on an outstretched arm or being struck by an object. Injuries can also occur due to degeneration, overuse or repetitive motion activities like throwing sports such as tennis and cricket. Some people may develop a tear in their rotator cuff without ever having an injury or incident that could have caused it, called spontaneous rupture of the supraspinatus tendon.
What is a Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear?
A rotator cuff tear is a partial or complete tear of the tendons in your shoulder. The leading cause is wear and tear, which can happen over time from repetitive motion.
A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold your shoulder in place, allowing it to move freely. Rotator cuff tears usually occur when there's an injury or trauma to the area—like after straining it while lifting something heavy. But they're also common among people who have had previous surgeries on their shoulders or old injuries.
What is the cause of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear?
The most common causes of shoulder rotator cuff tears are:
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Degeneration
As people grow older, the tissues in their bodies tend to break down and weaken. A natural part of ageing that doesn't always cause problems, but when it does, there's a chance that a person will develop arthritis in their joints, which can lead to pain and limited mobility.
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Trauma
Shoulder injuries from accidents or falls on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt roads (which don't absorb shock well) may cause trauma. In addition, shoulder injuries can result from sports-related activities such as fast bowling, boxing, tennis hits and swimming strokes, where athletes repeatedly put tension on their shoulders while rotating them back and forth at high speeds.
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Overuse/Repetitive Strain Injury Disorder (RSID)
Repetitive stress injuries occur when you repeat certain motions over time without taking breaks between repetitions. RSID is associated with repetitive tasks like physical work, long hours at sports or even typing reports all day long without pauses between sentences. Book an appointment at our Orthopaedics Hospital in Kharadi Pune to know more about Repetitive Strain Injury Disorder (RSID).
How is Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear Diagnosed?
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Physical examination
The doctor will examine the shoulder to check for signs of injury and determine what structures are injured.
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X-ray
An x-ray identifies any fracture or dislocation in the shoulder joint and other structures.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). MRI creates images of soft tissues like tendons and ligaments without radiation using radio waves and magnetic fields.
Is Surgery needed for a Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear?
It is essential to understand that surgery is not always necessary for a rotator cuff tear. In some cases, an individual can heal from the tear with physical therapy alone. If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff injury, seek medical treatment from an Orthopedician in Kharadi Pune specializing in sports medicine or orthopedics to determine whether surgical intervention is needed.
Surgery is needed for shoulder rotator cuff injury if there are no improvements following physical therapy and non-invasive methods such as cold therapy/ice packs.
It may be time to consider arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. With arthroscopic repair, the patient has less post-operative pain and quick recovery.
Rotator Cuff Treatment Without Surgery
For some people with rotator cuff tears, physical therapy and medicines may be all that are needed to relieve pain.
Physical therapy can help strengthen the shoulder muscles and improve their range of motion. It also helps to improve the function of the shoulder. At Manipal Hospitals, Kharadi, we guide you on how often to have physical therapy sessions and what exercises will work best for you.
If you have persistent shoulder pain, it's essential to have it evaluated by a doctor. The most common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff tear, which is manageable with physical therapy. Surgery is only needed if the tear doesn't heal with physical therapy or if the symptoms don't respond well to treatment. Manipal Hospitals, Kharadi has the best sports treatment facility in Pune.
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