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It is used for everything—from waving hello to a friend to swinging a bat on the baseball field. Of all the body’s joints, the shoulder is the most flexible, allowing for fluid range of upper body motion.
The rotator cuff, four tendons that connect four muscles to the shoulder and upper arms, is the “motor” of the shoulder and what stabilizes the shoulder joint. When injured, it can make upper body movement extremely difficult. At the office of Woodworth Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, our team of orthopedists is skilled at the diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff injuries, helping to restore our patients to full activity again.
People of all ages, particularly athletes and seniors, are prone to rotator cuff injuries. Strenuous workouts or sports where the upper arm and shoulder arc over the head cause wear and tear of the rotator cuff. Injuries can also result from repetitive wear or the natural degeneration of the cuff tissue as a person ages.
One of the major symptoms of a rotator cuff tear is shoulder pain while raising an arm or engaging in any kind of overhead activities. Other symptoms include pain at night over the side of the shoulder, and arm weakness during activity — especially when reaching or lifting.
Many small or partial rotator cuff tears can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy. Other more serious cases may require surgery to relieve pain and restore strength to the involved shoulder.
Setting the standard of care for joint and bone health
At the office of Woodworth Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate orthopedic care. For more information on the many services that we provide, give us a call today.
By Woodworth Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
January 23, 2024
