Rotator Cuff Treatment

Sep 03

Rotator cuff injuries are common amongst senior citizens. This is because the natural process of degeneration causes the tendon and muscle fibers in the rotator cuff to become frayed and deteriorated.

This degeneration makes it very likely that a rotator cuff injury may occur. Injuries to the rotator cuff can include tears and inflammation. Other factors that may cause a rotator cuff injury include a traumatic injury and any type of motion that is repeated on a regular basis. Repetitive motion injuries are common among athletes and construction workers who work over their heads or lift heavy things on a regular basis.

You should suspect that you have a rotator cuff injury when you feel pain on the outside of the shoulder or the top of the shoulder that becomes worse when you lift the arm over your head or extend it sideways from the body.

This pain will become very noticeable when performing everyday activities such as hair combing and dressing. If this becomes the case, it will be very important for you to move the arm continually to avoid stiffness and temporary paralysis.

Rotator cuff treatment may range from rest, ice, and heat to cortisone injections, deep heat ultrasound treatments, physical therapy and, in worst case scenarios, surgery.