A rotator cuff tear is a common injury, particularly in sports such as baseball or tennis, as well as in occupations involving repetitive arm movements. The shoulders are crucial for many activities, making them prone to overuse that can result in a tear. In addition, tears can occur due to sudden, high-impact motions such as lifting a heavy object with a jerking motion.
Rotator cuff tears are categorized into three types: partial thickness tear, full thickness tear, and a full thickness tear with complete detachment of the tendon from the bone. The presence of pain does not always correlate with the size of the tear. Acute symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include severe pain radiating throughout the arm and limited range of motion. Symptoms associated with rotator cuff tears may include noticeable pain during rest and a crackling sensation in the shoulder.
When surgery is necessary to repair the torn tendon, physiotherapy can assist with the rehabilitation process. During physiotherapy sessions, our therapists guide patients through exercise programs designed to strengthen supporting muscles. Additionally, they teach manual stretches that can be performed anywhere to reduce muscle tension and fatigue.
Modalities such as ice and heat are utilized to reduce swelling in the affected area, and a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit may be applied to stimulate the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint. Therapeutic ultrasound is also used to break down scar tissue around the supporting muscles and reduce inflammation, which can alleviate pain and discomfort in the shoulder joint.
References
1. Zhang, X., Wang, D., Wang, Z., Ling, S. K., Yung, P. S., Tuan, R. S., & Ker, D. F. E. (2022). Clinical perspectives for repairing rotator cuff injuries with multi-tissue regenerative approaches. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 36, 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2022.06.004
2. May T, Garmel GM. Rotator Cuff Injury. [Updated 2023 Jun 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547664/
3. Brindisino, F., Salomon, M., Giagio, S., Pastore, C., & Innocenti, T. (2021). Rotator cuff repair vs. nonoperative treatment: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 30(11), 2648–2659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2021.04.040
4. Vrouva, S., Batistaki, C., Paraskevaidou, E., Chanopoulos, K., Kostopoulos, D., Stamoulis, E., & Kostopanagiotou, G. (2019). Comparative Study of Pain Relief in Two Non-Pharmacological Treatments in Patients with Partial Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Trial. Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, 9(2), e88327–e88327. https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.88327