Like most part of our bodies, we rarely stop to consider how our shoulders help us every day-enabling us to swing our arms, lift them, move them forward and back, and carry things. But the shoulder is literally a pivotal part of our body-and the rotator cuff inside is the muscle group that enables us to pivot our arms and gives us a good range of motion. The rotator cuff is actually four muscles-the teres minor, the subscapularis, supraspinatus, and the infraspinatus. These muscles hold the shoulder joint-comprised of a ball and socket-in proper placement and are key to maintaining that range of motion. You should know the signs and symptoms so you can recognize an injury-or worse yet a tear-in the rotator cuff and seek treatment to prevent a permanent disability.
If you experience pain on the top, back portion of your shoulder where these muscles are located, you've likely injured your rotator cuff. Pain that shoots down your arm or increases with movement is an even stronger indicator of such an injury. And pain that also persists even when you sleep due to pressure on the shoulder area pretty much confirms it. If the pain is severe enough that over the counter pain killers don't alleviate it, there is a higher probability that you've torn-rather than just injured or strained-your rotator cuff.
Weakness will also accompany such an injury. You will start to lose strength in your arms-even for doing routine tasks like brushing your hair or getting dressed. That shoulder pain, combined with weakness in the arms, is a classic symptom of a torn rotator cuff.
Noises when moving or rotating your arms are also a clear sign of injury. Your arm should not normally pop, grate, or crack with arm movement. This indicates a high likelihood of a tear in the rotator cuff.
Generally torn rotator cuff symptoms occur due to over use or excess straining of the arms. As a result, these symptoms may build up over time. Many times, the injury may only be a small one, but if you don't pay attention it may intensify and cause more debilitating symptoms. It's only in case of a collision or a fall, these symptoms manifest themselves completely. Shoulder snapping or the sudden weakening of the shoulder with a throbbing, persistent pain may also be one of the torn rotator cuff symptoms.
With age, most joints and muscles weaken. That's why older adults tend to experience more rotator cuff injuries than younger people. After years of strain and excessive use, the muscles injure, strain, and tear easier than before. Sometimes the pain comes on so gradually and is addressed with over the counter pain medication that it is not until the pain becomes severe that the individual realizes the extent of the injury.
There are a variety of exercises and other cures for healing torn rotator cuff. If these torn rotator cuff symptoms become unbearable then you need to consult a doctor. - 30453
If you experience pain on the top, back portion of your shoulder where these muscles are located, you've likely injured your rotator cuff. Pain that shoots down your arm or increases with movement is an even stronger indicator of such an injury. And pain that also persists even when you sleep due to pressure on the shoulder area pretty much confirms it. If the pain is severe enough that over the counter pain killers don't alleviate it, there is a higher probability that you've torn-rather than just injured or strained-your rotator cuff.
Weakness will also accompany such an injury. You will start to lose strength in your arms-even for doing routine tasks like brushing your hair or getting dressed. That shoulder pain, combined with weakness in the arms, is a classic symptom of a torn rotator cuff.
Noises when moving or rotating your arms are also a clear sign of injury. Your arm should not normally pop, grate, or crack with arm movement. This indicates a high likelihood of a tear in the rotator cuff.
Generally torn rotator cuff symptoms occur due to over use or excess straining of the arms. As a result, these symptoms may build up over time. Many times, the injury may only be a small one, but if you don't pay attention it may intensify and cause more debilitating symptoms. It's only in case of a collision or a fall, these symptoms manifest themselves completely. Shoulder snapping or the sudden weakening of the shoulder with a throbbing, persistent pain may also be one of the torn rotator cuff symptoms.
With age, most joints and muscles weaken. That's why older adults tend to experience more rotator cuff injuries than younger people. After years of strain and excessive use, the muscles injure, strain, and tear easier than before. Sometimes the pain comes on so gradually and is addressed with over the counter pain medication that it is not until the pain becomes severe that the individual realizes the extent of the injury.
There are a variety of exercises and other cures for healing torn rotator cuff. If these torn rotator cuff symptoms become unbearable then you need to consult a doctor. - 30453
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for carpal tunnel sufferers. You can click here to find out more about having asore wrist.
