About rotator cuff disease

What is rotator cuff disease?

What is the rotator cuff?

The rotator cuff is the group of four tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. The tendons hook up to the four muscles that move the shoulder in various directions.

There are four muscles whose tendons form the rotator cuff: the subscapularis muscle, which moves the arm by turning it inward (internal rotation); the supraspinatus muscle, which is responsible for elevating the arm and moving it away from the body; the infraspinatus muscle, which assists the lifting of the arm during turning the arm outward (external rotation); and the teres minor muscle, which also helps in the outward turning of the arm.

What causes rotator cuff disease?

Rotator cuff disease is damage to the rotator cuff from any cause. It can be from an acute injury or from repetitive strains. This condition is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain.

What are the symptoms for rotator cuff disease?

The Pain associated with a rotator cuff injury may:

  • Be described as a dull ache deep in the shoulder
  • Disturb sleep
  • Make it difficult to comb your hair or reach behind your back
  • Be accompanied by arm weakness

Some rotator cuff injuries don't cause pain.

What are the causes for rotator cuff disease?

Rotator cuff injuries are most often caused by progressive wear and tear of the tendon tissue over time. Repetitive overhead activity or prolonged bouts of heavy lifting can irritate or damage the tendon. The rotator cuff can also be injured in a single incident during falls or accidents.

What are the treatments for rotator cuff disease?

The treatment of rotator cuff disease depends on the severity of the injury to the tendons of the rotator cuff and the underlying condition of the patient.

Mild rotator cuff disease is treated with ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen [Advil] and others). Generally, physical therapy using gradual exercise rehabilitation is instituted. Exercises are used that are specifically designed for rotator-cuff strengthening.

Patients with persistent pain and motion limitation can often benefit by a cortisone injection around the rotator cuff. Repeat injections may be necessary.

More severe rotator cuff disease can require surgical repair.

Subacromial decompression is the removal of a small portion of the bone (acromion) and soft tissues (bursa) that surround the rotator cuff. This removal can relieve pressure on the rotator cuff in certain conditions and promote healing and recovery. This procedure can be done by arthroscopic or open surgical techniques. Both methods have been reported to be equally successful.

The most severe rotator cuff disease, complete full-thickness rotator cuff tears, usually requires surgery for the best results. These procedures, which can also be done by either arthroscopy or open surgery, involve mending the torn rotator cuff by suturing the tissues back together. Ultimately, recovery from rotator cuff disease often requires extended physical therapy and rehabilitation.

What are the risk factors for rotator cuff disease?

The following factors may increase the risk of having a rotator cuff injury:

  • Age. The risk of a rotator cuff injury increases with age. Rotator cuff tears are most common in people older than 60.
  • Some occupations. Jobs that require repetitive overhead arm motions, such as carpentry or house painting, can damage the rotator cuff over time.
  • Certain sports. Some types of rotator cuff injuries are more common in people who participate in sports like baseball, tennis and weight-lifting.
  • Family history. There may be a genetic component involved with rotator cuff injuries as they appear to occur more commonly in certain families.

Is there a cure/medications for rotator cuff disease?

Conservative treatments — such as rest, ice, and physical therapy — sometimes are all that's needed to recover from a rotator cuff disease or injury. If your injury is severe, you might need surgery.
1. Therapy
Physical therapy is usually one of the first treatments suggested. Exercises tailored to the specific location of your rotator cuff injury can help restore flexibility and strength to your shoulder..
2. Injections
A steroid injection into the shoulder joint might be helpful, especially if the pain is interfering with sleep, daily activities or physical therapy
3. Surgery
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Many different types of surgeries are available for rotator cuff injuries, including:
• Arthroscopic tendon repair- In this procedure, surgeons insert a tiny camera (arthroscope) and tools through small incisions to reattach the torn tendon to the bone.
• Open tendon repair- In some situations, an open tendon repair may be a better option. In these types of surgeries, your surgeon works through a larger incision to reattach the damaged tendon to the bone.
• Tendon transfer- If the torn tendon is too damaged to be reattached to the arm bone, surgeons may decide to use a nearby tendon as a replacement.
• Shoulder replacement- Massive rotator cuff injuries may require shoulder replacement surgery. To improve the artificial joint's stability, an innovative procedure (reverse shoulder arthroplasty) installs the ball part of the artificial joint onto the shoulder blade and the socket part onto the arm bone.

Symptoms
Burning or pain on the outer elbow that may travel to your wrist,Pain when twisting or bending arm,Difficulty and pain caused by raising arm
Conditions
Popping or clicking sounds or sensations when moving arm,Shoulder pain that worsens at night or when resting arm
Drugs
Physical therapy,Steroid therapy,Surgery

Video related to rotator cuff disease