What is Rotator Cuff?

What is Rotator Cuff?

Rotator cuff is a common attachment of four muscles present in the shoulder which inserts on the shoulder bone humerus. This being a common attachment any abnormality in any one of the muscles leads to improper functioning of the cuff & pain in the shoulder joint

How does rotator cuff pain present?

Pain Coming from the rotator cuff could be due to two causes: Swelling in the cuff (tendinitis) or Tear of the cuff

What happens in rotator cuff tendinitis?

The rotator cuff before inserting travels through a very narrow space called subacromial region. Even with small changes in dynamics of this space the cuff gets pinched between the acromion bone above & tuberosity of the humerus below this leads to swelling within the cuff which is called as tendinitis. This pain usually is present along the outer aspect of the arm & pain during moving the arm upwards & forwards

How does a rotator cuff tear present?

In the younger age group rotator cuff tear almost always occurs after a significant injury but as age progresses it can occur due to relatively less force injury or even without any injury at all as the tissue quality deteriorates with age. A tear also presents with pain on the outer aspect of the arm along with weakness of lifting the arm times there is a complete inability to lift the arm

So pain along the outer aspect of the arm along with weakness in lifting the arm usually signifies a rotator cuff tear

Can a rotator cuff tear be present even without weakness in the arm?

Yes especially smaller tears or incomplete tears can present only with pain in the shoulder or the arm

How can one confirm that it is Rotator cuff tendinitis or tear?

Good quality MRI scan of the shoulder usually delineates between tendinitis & a complete tear

When to see a Shoulder specialist for my shoulder pain?

A shoulder pain which is present since long time, increases on activity or during sleeping at night especially after a jerk or injury to the shoulder will not settle down on its own & needs to be assessed by a best shoulder surgeon in Chembur at the earliest as a long standing tendinitis can get converted into a tear as the tendon keeps getting weaker

The best shoulder surgeon in Chembur receives exceptional medical care from us, and we also work hard to provide the best support.