Rotator Cuff Tear: Exercises, Symptoms, Tests, and Surgery

Rotator cuff tears can be career-ending for professional athletes and are one of the most common causes of shoulder pain for everyday folks. So, what is a rotator cuff and how can it tear?

The rotator cuff refers to a group of four tendons and muscles that form a "cuff" to stabilize the shoulder joint and keep the arm in the shoulder socket, while allowing it to move in different directions.

The shoulder joint is stable because of the rotator cuff, but it is also relatively weak. Acute injuries or repetitive stress and strain on the joint can cause swelling and tears in the tendons.

Most of the time, rotator cuff injuries are caused by repetitive stress on the rotator cuff or degeneration caused by aging. Such repetitive stress can include injuries sustained from sports, particularly those that require a lot of shoulder movement such as baseball, tennis, swimming, weightlifting, and football.

As we age, reduced blood supply to the rotator cuff tendons means damage does not repair itself as well, and bone spurs (bony overgrowths) can also weaken the tendon and lead to tears.

Acute injuries caused by falling, using an arm to break a fall, or lifting heavy items with a jerking motion can also lead to rotator cuff tears.

An acute rotator cuff tear occurs when there is excessive force exerted on the rotator cuff tendons. The amount of force needed to tear a rotator cuff tendon varies from person to person and the condition of their rotator cuff tendons prior to trauma. In a person with healthy tendons, it could require the stress of a fall, landing on an outstretched arm to tear a tendon. But if a tendon has pre-existing degeneration, the force require for it to tear may be modest, such as lifting a moderately heavy object.

Chronic rotator cuff tears are commonly seen in people whose occupations or sports require them to reach their arms overhead frequently, such as baseball pitchers, tennis players, or even painters. Use of the arm in such a position causes repetitive trauma to the rotator cuff muscles and tendons.

As we age, the blood supply to the tendons is reduced, which can lead to longer healing times after injury. In addition, muscles degenerate. All this can lead to tendinitis (tendon inflammation), which can make a person more prone to a rotator cuff tear and rotator cuff injuries.

Symptoms of rotator cuff injuries are due to inflammation and swelling in the rotator cuff and include:

• Pain in the shoulder and arm. Pain is felt often at night when lying on the affected shoulder.
• Pain may also be felt when moving the arm in certain ways. The pain stops before the elbow.
• If the injury is acute (sudden) pain will be intense and immediate.
• If the injury is degenerative (damage occurs over time) the pain may be mild at first.
• Weakness or loss of motion in the arm or shoulder.
• A grating or snapping sensation or cracking sound when moving the shoulder.

Any time you have an acute shoulder injury, or chronic shoulder or arm pain, you should see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. If your shoulder pain persists despite rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications, if you can no longer perform your daily activities, if you cannot reach overhead, or you can no longer participate in a sport you used to, see a doctor. Early diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear can make a big difference in recovery and prevent loss of strength and motion.

If your injury is acute (sudden) such as from a severe fall or accident, go to a hospital's emergency department. If you suspect a bone is broken, if you have an open wound or a bone protruding from the wound, if you experience any numbness in the arm or hand, or if you cannot move your shoulder, go to an emergency department.

A rotator cuff injury is diagnosed first with a physical exam in which a doctor will move your arm in different directions to assess your pain levels and range of motion. Other tests to diagnose a torn rotator cuff include:

• X-ray
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• Ultrasound
• Arthrogram - a special type of X-ray that uses dye injected into a joint to more clearly see detail in the tendons and muscles

The first line of treatment for rotator cuff injuries that are mild to moderate includes rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Avoid using the shoulder if it hurts.

Physical therapy for rotator cuff injuries is used to make the shoulder stronger and more flexible. In some cases, steroid injections such as cortisone may be used to relieve pain and inflammation.

Most of the time, surgery is not needed to repair a rotator cuff injury, except in severe cases where the tendon may be completely torn, the injury is acute, or the pain is chronic and has not been helped by other treatments. Following surgery, physical therapy is still needed.

Torn rotator cuff surgery may be recommended in severe cases. If pain does not improve with medical treatment and rest, or if you are an athlete or use your arms and shoulders a lot for work you may need surgery. Surgical options include an open repair, which involves a traditional surgical incision. This method is used for large or complex tears. Arthroscopic repair is less invasive and involves a smaller incision in which the surgeon inserts a small camera (an arthroscope) into the shoulder joint allowing the surgeon to see the shoulder anatomy and to guide surgical instruments.

Either type of surgery involves an extensive rehabilitation period. This consists of immobilization of the shoulder joint, such as with a sling, for four to six weeks. Once the sling is off, physical therapy begins with passive exercises in which a physical therapist will move the arm and shoulder for you. Beginning 8 to 12 weeks post-op you may start doing active physical therapy exercises to strengthen the arm.

You may not be able to prevent all causes of rotator cuff injuries. Accidents happen, and muscles and tendons degenerate with age. But there are some things you can do to decrease the likelihood of a rotator cuff tear. Torn rotator cuff prevention includes:

• Proper warm-ups before sports or other tasks involving the shoulder joint can keep it flexible and may prevent injury.
• Exercise the shoulder to maintain strength.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects over your head.
• If you are using your arms and shoulders a lot, take frequent breaks.

The prognosis for torn rotator cuff varies. In about half of patients with rotator cuff injuries, nonsurgical treatment is sufficient to relieve pain and restore shoulder function and movement. Conservative treatment generally consists of a minimum of six weeks of physical therapy and sometimes cortisone injections.

If surgery is required, the recovery time is longer. The shoulder will need to be immobilized for four to six weeks, followed by physical therapy. It is usually necessary to wait about three months before using the shoulder for light activities above shoulder height, and about six months to return to vigorous activities.