One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is due to injury to the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is comprised of a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, providing the shoulder with both stability and movement. Most rotator cuff problems involve injury to the tendons, though the muscles are also sometimes involved. How do these injuries happen and what are your treatment options? Read on! Show People who practice sports that involve a lot of movement of their arms over their head such as swimmers and tennis players are more likely to suffer from this injury, as are those over age 40, due to the normal loss of elasticity and degeneration that comes with aging. Injuries can be caused from a direct blow to the shoulder, falling on the arm when it is outstretched or having the arm yanked. It is more likely for the rotator cuff to be injured when the muscles of the shoulder area have been weakened by inactivity. The most common injuries to the rotator cuff are tendonitis and rotator cuff tears. A rotator cuff tear can be either a result of a direct injury to the arm or may evolve from rotator cuff tendonitis (also called impingement syndrome). Impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff rub against the shoulder blade, causing it to become inflamed, fray and weaken. Arthritis and bone spurs can also contribute to this condition. A symptom that you may have a torn rotator cuff is having a dull ache in the upper arm and shoulder that may extend down to the elbow, especially when moving the arm over the head. Treatment options include rest, pain killers, ice packs, chiropractic care, steroid injections and surgery. Many rotator cuff injuries heal by themselves in time, and using an NSAID such as ibuprofen may help to reduce inflammation and control pain. Ice packs can also be applied to the shoulder for this purpose (bags of frozen vegetables work well too!) Your chiropractor can use a range of treatments to first address the pain and inflammation of a rotator cuff tear. These may include ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and heat and ice treatments. Then chiropractic adjustments and targeted exercises are used to restore mobility and increase range of movement, without having to resort to steroid injections or surgery. After approximately six to eight weeks of treatment most patients are able to resume normal activities. In some cases surgery may be indicated if there has been a complete tear. This can involve widening the space through which the rotator cuff tendon passes, which releases the trapped tendon, or repairing the tendon itself. If you've injured your shoulder or are suffering from some aches or pains, give us a call to schedule a free consultation: 317-600-3070. We look forward to helping you get back on the road to wellness. Yours in health, Dr. Jay www.AvonChiropracticClinic.com
Meriel Davis, associate chiropractor at Back 2 Balance, Hove, has a keen interest in helping people alleviate their sporting injuries, especially those in the knees and shoulders. We all know that chiropractic can be very effective for back pain…however it can also be very effective for extremity injuries as well. One of the most common extremity injuries we see here at Back 2 Balance is rotator cuff injuries (i.e. a common type of shoulder pain). Shoulder injuries can happen at any age and don’t have to be sports related. The rotator cuff muscle group (see below image) lie all around the shoulder blade…in front, either side and on top…these muscle fibres then all lead up to the arm bone where they become tendons and attach onto the top part of the arm. Their function is to stabilise the shoulder joint on moving but ofcourse to also move the arm bone itself. A very common symptom of a rotator cuff injury is an inability to lift the arm out to the side, pain on putting a coat on or pain when sleeping on that side at night. Some people experience pain radiating down the arm towards the elbow or even hand.  One of the reasons why rotator cuff injuries are so common is that the shoulder is a very mobile joint. This mobility is at the expense of shoulder stability. A small injury can happen in one of the tendons/muscles but this can very easily progress to other muscle areas becoming irritated due to compensation patterns. What starts off as a simple problem can often lead to a more complex issue where the original injury sight is not so obvious. Shoulder mobilisation, soft tissue release on the rotator cuff muscles, mid back and neck treatment are some of the treatment modalities chiropractic can incorporate into I, for one, have personal experience of shoulder/rotator cuff injury…the pain started after going to the gym in my mid twenties…and with the amount of tennis played it would just get worse and worse. I have seen lots of practitioners in my time for shoulder treatment and from that I know what it feels like to have a rotator cuff injury and what it feels like to get it treated and subsequently get better from it. This is the main reason I enjoy treating shoulder injuries…because I understand what it feels like to have had one and the effect it has on a person’s life. Should I see a chiropractor for a rotator cuff injury?A rotator cuff injury can lead to serious quality-of-life issues. Even though you might be considering surgery, it is a good idea to meet with a chiropractor first. There could be alternative treatment options available.
Can a chiropractor do anything for a torn rotator cuff?Your chiropractor can use a range of treatments to first address the pain and inflammation of a rotator cuff tear. These may include ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and heat and ice treatments.
What test confirms a torn rotator cuff?An MRI scan enables your doctor to see the soft tissue in the shoulder and determine if you have a rotator cuff tear and whether it is partial or full thickness. An MRI can also provide doctors information about the tendon retraction or tear pattern, which may influence decisions about what surgical techniques to use.
What kind of doctor do you see for rotator cuff problems?If you suspect a rotator cuff tear or other serious shoulder injuries, it's advised that you make an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor. There are many options for treatment, but they are generally more effective if the injury is diagnosed early.
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Can a chiropractor diagnose a torn rotator cuff
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