Effective Treatments For Rotator Cuff Injuries

Anyone can get rotator cuff tears regardless of age or sex. These injuries occur gradually or instantly, depending on the cause. Rotator cuff tear West Chester can cause extreme pain that renders your shoulder immobile until treated. Suppose you are struggling with shoulder joint pain. In that case, the team at Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers a comprehensive evaluation to determine if you have a rotator cuff tear and provide effective treatments.

What is a rotator cuff?

The rotator cuff includes a collection of tendons and muscles that stabilize your joint and facilitate the movement and rotation of your shoulder and arm. Rotator cuffs are responsible for supporting the ball of your shoulder joint and humerus head in the socket. Between the bone located on top of the shoulder and your rotator cuff is a bursa that facilitates the movement of your shoulder joint. An injury to the rotator cuff damages your bursa resulting in a deformation of your shoulder. The shoulder is responsible for carrying most of your daily tasks, making it vulnerable to injury.

What should you know about rotator cuff tears?

A rotator cuff tear refers to the gradual wear and tear resulting from daily use. This injury is common in people with jobs requiring frequent movement of the arms, such as painters, tennis, and baseball players. A rotator cuff tear can also occur if you lift a heavy object suddenly or fall on your arm.

Partial tears are injuries that affect the rotator cuff but do not damage the whole tendon or muscle. Full-thickness tears are injuries that completely separate a tendon from the humerus head. Rotator cuff tears cause may lead to debilitating pain and shoulder weakness, preventing you from carrying out your daily activities.

What factors contribute to rotator cuff tears?

Rotator cuff tears may be due to progressive degeneration of your tendon tissue or substantial shoulder injury. Repetitive activities or constant lifting of heavy objects may contribute to the damage to your shoulder tendons. As you get older, your risk of a rotator cuff tear rises because your muscle and tendons weaken with age. People with occupations like carpentry that require repetitive arm activity also have a higher risk of getting a rotator cuff tear. A genetic history of rotator cuff injuries may also raise your chances of getting a rotator cuff tear.

If left untreated, rotator cuff tears can lead to long-term weakness or permanent immobility in your shoulder joint. Although shoulder rest is crucial for your recovery, immobilizing your shoulder joint for too long may cause a frozen shoulder.

What are the available treatments for rotator cuff injury?

Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine experts recommend non-invasive treatments for rotator cuff tears before advancing to surgical procedures. Your treatment plan may include steroid injections, heat and ice therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers, activity modification, and physical therapy. If these procedures fail to work, Dr. Hess may suggest surgery. Dr. Hess performs arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a small lighted camera to access your shoulder joint through tiny incisions.

For more information about rotator cuff tears, call the Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine or book an appointment online today.