http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1132604/thumbs/r-SHELBY-MILLER-large570.jpg?6
Structure of the Rotator Cuff
B. Infraspinatus C. Teres minor D. Subscapularis |
Statistics
- Injury to the rotator cuff is the most common type of shoulder injury
- Every year, roughly 200,000 Americans require shoulder surgery to repair the rotator cuff [1]
- Another 400,000 Americans have surgery for related rotator cuff tendonitis or for partial tears
- In 2008, close to 2 million people in the United States went to their doctors because of a rotator cuff problem [2]
- Those at highest risk are individuals who have weak shoulder muscles and also those who perform repeated movements over the head
Common causes
- Poor posture/ergonomic techniques, especially while tying on a computer
- Repeated movements with the arms above the head, this is especially common in sports such as pitching in baseball, basketball, and tennis
- Using poor technique while lifting weights or just simply trying to do too much weight
- Overuse of the shoulder joint
Symptoms
- Constant shoulder pain especially at night [3]
- Have a hard time reaching behind your back or difficulty while combing hair [4]
- Weakness of the shoulder and arm
- Pain will often be in the front of the shoulder
Treatment options
- Limiting activities that require movements above the head
- Physical therapy (exercises) [5]
- Medication
- Surgery (bone spur removal, tendon repair/replacement, shoulder replacement) [4]
- The increase in national rates of rotator cuff repair over the last decade has been dramatic [6]
References
- http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/jan11/cover1.asp
- http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00064
- http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rotator-cuff-disorders-symptoms
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rotator-cuff-injury/basics/symptoms/con-20031421
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000357.htm
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262185/