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Most rotator cuff tears can be prevented. An injury to the shoulder can cause chronic inflammation that can weaken the rotator cuff over time. Persistent pain with certain activities and a loss of motion compared to the other side are signs that your shoulder does not move normally, and friction is irritating the tendons. In this state your rotator cuff is weaker and more susceptible to injury.
A Common Shoulder Injury
Reaching behind your seat to grab your purse, picking up something heavy while reaching forward, can put your rotator cuff at risk for a tear. Immediate pain and weakness are signs that you have injured your rotator cuff. You may have difficulty raising your arm above shoulder height. A fall onto your shoulder or onto an outstretched arm can cause an acute injury to the shoulder. If pain persists after 2 weeks and is not getting better it is time to have your shoulder checked.
Pain > 2 weeks? Get it checked.
Signs of a Rotator Cuff Injury
Pain at the front of the shoulder
Pain down the arm
Weakness and difficulty raising your arm
Loss of mobility
Drop arm, sensation of your arm giving way with pain when using it
What you should do...
Evaluation by an orthopedic specialist, such as a Physical Therapist
Have your shoulder evaluated. Assess your shoulder to make sure it moves normally. Is there a shoulder or scapular dyskinesia? If there is stiffness to the shoulder joint, shoulder blade, or rib cage and spine, then the shoulder and arm will not move correctly. This causes increased friction of the rotator cuff every time you raise your arm.
Shoulder Imaging with Diagnostic Ultrasound
Have your shoulder imaged with diagnostic ultrasound. Is there an injury to the tendons of the shoulder? Diagnostic ultrasound of the shoulder can be as accurate as an MRI.
A diagnostic ultrasound can help clinical decision making. Do you need further imaging? Is an orthopedic surgery consult necessary? In most cases conservative treatment will restore normal shoulder function.
Why diagnostic ultrasound?
Chronic shoulder pain? Get it checked.
Early treatment can prevent further damage and a possible future rotator cuff tear. Dry needling is a great treatment to reduce muscle pain and knots. Check out the link below to watch video on shoulder dry needling treatment.
Clinics that offer diagnostic ultrasound for the shoulder