A rotator cuff tear can be painful and result in a dramatically reduced range of motion of the shoulder. Rotator cuff tear symptoms may include:
- Shoulder pain at the top and side of the shoulder
- Weakness or loss of shoulder movement making it difficult to reach behind your back or reach upwards
- Inflammation and swelling
What Causes Rotator Cuff Tears? There are 3 causes of rotator cuff tear, namely sudden traumatic shoulder injury, repetitive overuse injury in the over 40’s and degenerative shoulder disease. Sudden Traumatic Rotator Cuff Injuries Sudden traumatic injuries of the rotator cuff happen when great or sudden forces cause it to over stretch or forcefully tear. Falling on an outstretched arm or elbow can cause shoulder injury where the rotator cuff may be one of the structures damaged. Repetitive Overuse Shoulder Injuries From the age of 40 onwards, most people will begin to suffer muscle and tendon weakening. These changes mean people may no longer be able to generate force like they used to and overloading muscles may lead to tendonitis and tendon rupture. The rotator cuff tendon is susceptible to rupture as we age and we overload it with repetitive overuse activity like swimming, rowing, painting or plastering. The rotator cuff may experience repeated episodes of catching or impinging, which may progress to chronic impingement syndrome and ultimately rupture. Degenerative Shoulder Disease Degenerative disease of the shoulder affects over 50’s and involves growth of bony spurs around the shoulder, joint disease and worsening blood supply. The effects of trauma and wear and tear are magnified and rotator cuff tear occurs more easily.