Diseases and Conditions: Rotator cuff injury

Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic Staff

The pain associated with a rotator cuff injury may:

• Be described as a dull ache deep in the shoulder
• Disturb sleep, particularly if you lie on the affected shoulder
• Make it difficult to comb your hair or reach behind your back
• Be accompanied by arm weakness

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention if your shoulder pain is severe or if it's remained unchanged for more than a few days.

Definition

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. A rotator cuff injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens when you try to sleep on the involved side.

Rotator cuff injuries occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or sports. Examples include painters, carpenters, and people who play baseball or tennis. The risk of rotator cuff injury also increases with age.

Many people recover from a rotator cuff injury with physical therapy exercises that improve flexibility and strength of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. Severe rotator cuff injuries, involving complete tears of the muscle or tendon, may require surgical repair.

 

Causes

Causes of rotator cuff injuries include:

• Falling. Using your arm to break a fall or falling on your arm can bruise or tear a rotator cuff tendon or muscle.
• Lifting or pulling. Lifting an object that's too heavy or doing so improperly — especially overhead — can strain or tear your tendons or muscles.
• Repetitive stress. Repetitive overhead movement of your arms can stress your rotator cuff muscles and tendons, causing inflammation and eventually tearing.
• Bone spurs. An overgrowth of bone can occur on a part of the shoulder blade that protrudes over the rotator cuff. This extra bone can irritate and damage the tendon.