| Rotator cuff disorders are irritations in or damage to | | | | and whether surgery may be appropriate. While |
| tendons around the shoulder. These disorders include | | | | strengthening a muscle that is attached to a torn |
| inflammation of the tendons (tendinitis) or the bursa | | | | tendon is unlikely to be beneficial, strengthening the |
| (bursitis), a calcium buildup in the tendons, or partial or | | | | surrounding muscles may allow your shoulder to |
| complete tears of the tendon. | | | | compensate for a rotator cuff tendon tear. If your |
| The shoulder’s rotator cuff plays an important role | | | | shoulder gets better with physical therapy, you may |
| in throwing movements, as in football, baseball, or | | | | not need surgery. If you do have rotator cuff surgery, |
| softball, or racket sports like tennis. Comprised of a | | | | you will need to commit to and complete a physical |
| group of muscles and tendons, the rotator cuff allows | | | | therapy program after surgery. |
| for a large range of movement using the shoulder and | | | | Treatment Overview |
| also keeps the shoulder joint stable. | | | | Treatment for rotator cuff disorders focuses on |
| A rotator cuff is more easily damaged or torn as | | | | relieving pain and inflammation and restoring shoulder |
| age-related degeneration develops. The factors below | | | | strength, flexibility, and function. Treatment may help to |
| often occur together or overlap. | | | | prevent further complications, such as loss of strength |
| · Bones that are irregularly shaped can affect | | | | and movement in the shoulder or additional |
| how the cuff moves in the subacromial space. You | | | | degeneration or tearing. Treatment considerations |
| may be born with these irregularities, or they may | | | | include your symptoms, age, activity level, and whether |
| occur after some type of injury, such as a broken | | | | your symptoms appear to be related to a rotator cuff |
| bone or dislocation of the shoulder joint. If the acromion | | | | injury. You and your health professional will decide |
| is hooked or curved, impingement or degeneration of | | | | together which treatment is best for you. |
| rotator cuff tendons may be more likely. | | | | Nonsurgical treatment |
| Do I need surgery for my rotator cuff? | | | | Most rotator cuff disorders are treated without |
| Rotator cuff problems, which have developed | | | | surgery. Your treatment may include: |
| insidiously, are treated initially non-operatively with rest, | | | | · Resting, although gentle movement of the |
| analgesics, ice massage and activity modification. If the | | | | shoulder is recommended. Prolonged immobilization |
| symptoms do not respond to these measures, | | | | (holding the shoulder still), such as with slings or braces, |
| investigations like Ultrasonogram or MRI are required to | | | | may cause the shoulder joint to become stiff. |
| identify any tears in the rotator cuff. X-rays will not | | | | Surgery |
| show rotator cuff, but they will show any bony | | | | Surgery is most useful in relieving pain and weakness |
| abnormalities that indicate cuff disease. | | | | in the shoulder or if the tendons are being squeezed |
| When is physical therapy used to treat rotator cuff | | | | as they move through their normal ranges of motion. |
| disorders? | | | | The two types of surgery for rotator cuff disorders |
| Physical therapy is sometimes needed before surgery | | | | are subacromial smoothing and rotator cuff repair. |
| to help determine the cause of your shoulder problem | | | | |