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Rotator Cuff Tear
What is it?
The rotator cuff is comprised of the muscles and tendons that surround the top of the upper arm bone and hold it in the shoulder joint. When you raise your arm, rotator cuff muscles slide through a tunnel in your shoulder.
What causes it?
A rotatator cuff tear (subacromial bursitis) may result suddenly from a single traumatic event or develop gradually because of repetitive overhead activities. Usually occurs in the dominant arm (right shoulder for right-handed people; left shoulder for left-handed people). Although you hear about rotator cuff tears during the baseball season, it is not limited to athletes. Any repetitive overhead activity, heavy lifting, or a fall can cause a rotator cuff tear.
Symptoms
Pain, muscle weakness, catching and grating or cracking sounds in the shoulder especially when attempting to lift the arm or perform overhead activities.
Initial evaluation
The physician will examine your shoulder and ask you about your medical history, any injuries you may have sustained to your arm or shoulder, the job that you perform, hobbies or sports you participate in, etc. An X-ray or other imaging tests may be performed to make a diagnosis.
Treatment
There are many non-surgical courses of treatment for rotator cuff tears, such as rest, adjustments to how you perform daily activities, oral anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections. If non-surgical treatment is not successful, surgery may be required. This is an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia. Surgery is followed by therapy lasting 1-3 months.
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