{"id":4432,"date":"2019-02-26T08:03:49","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T08:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=4432"},"modified":"2021-05-03T20:51:11","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T20:51:11","slug":"10-signs-of-rotator-cuff-tear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-signs-of-rotator-cuff-tear\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs of Rotator Cuff Tear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Your rotator cuff is a set of four tendons <\/a>and muscles that are around the shoulder joint. They keep your humerus \u2014 which the upper arm bone \u2014 stable within the socket of your shoulder. If you suffer an injury to your shoulder cuff, you might notice a dull pain or ache in your shoulder that gets worse whenever you apply pressure to that area or attempt to use your arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotator cuff injuries are most prominent in people who perform repetitive motions such as athletes or those with manual labor jobs. Baseball players, tennis coaches, and carpenters are especially susceptible to this type of injury. It\u2019s worth noting that the odds of getting a rotator cuff injury get greater as you age. Most people will recover from their injury through some physical therapy though. Here are eight signs that you might have a rotator cuff tear. If you notice any of them, call your doctor immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. X-ray results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to go to your doctor and report the shoulder pain<\/a>, they\u2019ll most likely suggest that you get an x-ray. Bear in mind that rotator cuffs don\u2019t actually show up on x-ray results, but they can rule out other things that could cause the pain in your shoulder. These include arthritis as well as fractures. When you have something as vague as shoulder pain, it\u2019s usually a process of elimination for doctors who are trying to give you a diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your doctor finds that you do have a bone fracture or arthritis, they will most likely still try to see if there\u2019s a secondary cause for the pain. It\u2019s possible that someone might have both arthritis and a rotator cuff tear at the same time. If you\u2019ve had arthritis for years but notice significantly more severe pain in recent weeks, you might have a cuff that is unrelated to your underlying condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Ultrasound results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the x-ray isn\u2019t conclusive enough for your doctor to make a proper diagnosis<\/a>, they might request further tests. One of the tests that doctors run on patients who have symptoms akin to that of a rotator cuff is the ultrasound. During an ultrasound, doctors will make use of sound waves so that they can get a clear image of the internal structures of your body. The process is similar to how bats see in the dark with echolocation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also makes it easy to see soft tissues like tendons and muscles. It makes it easy for doctors to see the various structures in your shoulder as you move \u2014 a process known as dynamic testing. The ability to see the inner structures as you move will help doctors pinpoint the issue and also what its nature is. Doctors will likely perform the ultrasound on both shoulders so they can compare the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Magnetic resonance imaging results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Magnetic resonance imaging is more frequently referred to as MRI. It uses a very powerful magnet in conjunction with radio waves so that it can get a detailed image of the structures within your shoulder. Bear in mind that the quality of the scans could vary based on the equipment used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equipment that is of poor quality or perhaps very old could lead to sloppier images than if your scan was performed with the latest cutting-edge technology<\/a>. MRI scans are one of the most precise ways of finding out what the issue is as the images are easy for the doctors to interpret. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would do you good to canvas the hospitals in your area before getting your scan so that you can pick the one that has the most advanced equipment. Private hospitals will generally have better and newer equipment which will provide clearer scans to your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Pain when reaching up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice pain <\/a>when you reach over your head, you might have a rotator cuff tear. There are many activities that might be painful if you have a rotator cuff. Trying to reach items on a high shelf is one motion that might be difficult or painful if your rotator cuff is torn. Changing lightbulbs could also be particularly painful if your rotator cuff is torn due to the fact that you have to reach overhead to remove the old bulb and put in the new one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Painters will also notice the pain due to the high reach that they need whenever painting near the top of their canvas \u2014 perhaps depicting a skyline, sun, or birds. Regardless of which action you\u2019re performing when you notice the pain, it\u2019s important that you take note of them. If you notice a pattern of pain whenever you raise your arms above your head, you might have a torn rotator cuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Prolonged pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let us start by saying that there are many things that could cause chronic pain.<\/a> From arthritis to diabetes, a whole slew of conditions could lead to long-term pain. That said, if you notice prolonged pain that is specific to your rotator cuff area then it might be torn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find that the pain is long-term but only present when you exert pressure on your shoulder then it could be a torn rotator cuff. Many people ignore pain thinking that it\u2019s just fatigue, but getting chronic pain checked out with your doctor is the best way to diagnose any issues early on and make treatment more effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, if you find that the pain is more spread out as opposed to being localized, there might be a different cause than a torn cuff. Either way, you should always get long-term pain checked out so you can treat any issues that might be present \u2014 cuff-related or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Drop arm test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the common ways that doctors test for a torn rotator cuff is known as the drop arm test. To start the test, the doctor asks the patients to either stand up or sit on an exam table during the duration of the process. The examiner \u2014 usually a physical therapist <\/a>or doctor \u2014 will stand on the lateral side of the patient, and sometimes behind the arm that is being tested. They will then gently get your shoulder to an angle of 90 degrees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the examiner lets go, the patient will need to slowly lower their shoulder back to the side of their body at a controlled pace. If the arm falls to the side abruptly and the patient is unable to lower it at a controlled fashion then the rotator cuff is most likely torn. This is due to the fact that the rotator cuff is responsible for keeping the humerus stable in its socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Insomnia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign of a torn rotator cuff is insomnia<\/a>. This should be obvious as pain will make it hard to both fall asleep and stay asleep. That said, sometimes even minor cases that don\u2019t cause any significant pain could lead to insomnia. This is due to the fact that it discomforts so minor that it isn\u2019t consciously perceived might make it harder for you to fall asleep on a subconscious level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, there have been a few studies suggesting that torn rotator cuffs could decrease the production of the sleep hormone melatonin making it even harder to fall asleep at night. This is likely due to the inflammation that occurs when you tear your rotator cuff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been other studies that appear to verify that inflammation leads to a decrease in melatonin production. It\u2019s possible that specific immune responses such as inflammation interfere with the secretion of endocrinal hormones such as melatonin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Strength test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another test that doctors use to evaluate a rotator cuff is a specific strength examination that targets this area. All four muscles in your rotator cuff are responsible for stabilizing your shoulder and generating force. These muscles are known as supraspinatus, subscapularis, infraspinatus, and teres minor respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For swimmers, internal rotators are usually stronger than external rotators. This could lead to imbalanced force within your shoulder. This strength <\/a>test checks all components of your rotator cuff to see if any are damaged or significantly weak. It could also differentiate a tear from atrophy due to inactivity. You will sit down and assume the flexing position that has been a staple of cartoons like Johnny Bravo and shows like Jersey Shore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by raising your arm to the side at a 90-degree angle than do the same with your elbow. Your hand will be pointing to the ceiling. The doctor will then evaluate the rotation of your arm and see if there are any visual signs of damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Pain When Moving the Arm Backward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The rotator cuff is not really one muscle but is, in fact, four muscles. These four muscles are the supraspinatus muscle, the infraspinatus muscle, the teres minor muscle, and the subscapularis muscle. Those first three muscles are responsible for the external rotation of the arm, or the lateral rotation. That means turning the arm away from the body, whether that\u2019s by swinging the fist outward, or whether it is by simply rotating the arm at the humerus into the supinated position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rotator cuff is an extremely important muscle group that often gets overlooked. While it is not a \u2018mirror muscle\u2019, meaning that it won\u2019t contribute to your aesthetics, it is nevertheless very important for such things as bringing the arm back before throwing a ball. It also acts as a support muscle during exercises such as the upward row, lateral pull-down, and chin up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More importantly, the rotator cuff muscles <\/a>are the only <\/em>muscles that help with this rotation, which makes them extremely important. This is why pain when moving the arm backward is one of the most common signs of a rotator cuff injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Sudden Pain During Exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As well as looking for the signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff injury right now, try to think back to the acute pain that you initially felt when the injury happened. While it is possible to experience tendonitis affecting the shoulder joint, or other forms of chronic low-level pain, a muscle tear is normally something that you will feel happen. At this point, a significant number of muscle fibers have torn, to the point that the damage impairs movement and may even cause a physical indentation in the muscle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is likely to cause a tearing feeling that might force you to bring the training session or the sporting activity to a premature halt. You might also notice that you go into shock: perhaps trembling, maybe sweating<\/a>, and possibly feeling your bodyweight temperature change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chances are as well that you will encounter the pain when you are doing something that involves that movement: such as throwing a ball or performing reverse pec flies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>is a common sign associated with any muscle tear. Due to the damage to the area, blood will rush to the affected muscle and will pool there in an attempt to prevent infection while also rebuilding the tissue from amino acids and other nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This swelling is a normal and important part of the healing process, so it should not be viewed as a negative thing. That said, it may cause discomfort if the swelling progresses to the point that it places strain and pressure on the surrounding tissue, or if it prevents normal movement of the joints and spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excessive swelling can be treated with an ice pack, and is one of the easiest ways to tell a muscle tear apart from regular \u2018DOMS\u2019 or \u2018Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Kyphosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kyphosis <\/a>is a condition that can be exacerbated by damage to the rotator cuffs, but it might also make the damage more likely in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyphosis is a curvature at the spine at the top (the thoracic and cervical regions). This is caused by shortness and tightness affecting the pectoral muscles and anterior deltoids, along with weakness and lack of muscle tone in the rotator cuffs and other pulling muscles in the back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is often caused by working a desk job, which causes the arms to be pulled forward typing. It can be exacerbated through weight training that involves working on the \u2018mirror muscles\u2019 such as the pecs, at the expense of less \u2018glamorous\u2019 muscles at the rear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Pain When Pushing Forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While three of the four rotator cuff muscles are involved in pulling the arm back and rotating externally\/laterally, the fourth is involved in forwarding\/medial rotation \u2013 this being the subscapularis muscle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This works in tandem with the pectoral muscles and deltoids to push the arm forward, meaning that it is less likely that you would experience an injury here that didn\u2019t also affect those larger muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, it is still possible. And not only that, but \u2018irradiation\u2019 means that when you contract the muscle, those around it \u2013 particularly the antagonist’s muscles \u2013 will also tend to contract. This means that you might also feel some pain when contracting and pushing the arm <\/a>forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that there are a number of risk factors<\/a> that make you more likely to suffer from a rotator cuff injury. While these aren\u2019t symptoms, they are useful to consider when trying to ascertain the cause of discomfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athletes are more likely to experience pain in this region for instance, due to the nature of their work. Likewise, those who work desk jobs and have relatively poor shoulder mobility are also at risk. Age is another risk factor.
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