Rotator cuff
What is Rotator cuff related shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain affects around 70% of people in their lifetime and the rotator cuff is considered to be one of the most common causes of this pain. This is therefore termed ‘Rotator cuff related shoulder pain’.
This condition can profoundly affect daily life including sleep, self-care and regular activities. The good news, however, is that the condition is very rarely serious and there are things that you can do to set you up for a successful recovery.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles which help to control the movement of the shoulder’s ball and socket joint. Muscles have tendons, which attach to the bone. The tendons of the rotator cuff muscles can become stressed, causing pain in the shoulder or upper arm. It’s sometimes referred to as subacromial shoulder pain, impingement, rotator cuff tendinopathy or subacromial bursitis.
Symptoms may include:
- Pain is most commonly felt around the outer aspect of the upper arm, but it can radiate down the arm.
- Pain on certain movements such as reaching forwards, above head height, out to the side and bringing your hand behind your back.
- Lying on the arm can be painful, potentially causing you to wake at night.
- It can be a catching-type of pain.
Factors that may play a role in the development of rotator cuff pain include:
- It can occur following repetitive or sustained activity, particularly if it’s a sudden increase and the shoulder isn’t conditioned for it. Work activities, sports or hobbies which require putting hands above shoulder height are the most likely candidates for rotator cuff problems.
- Certain health conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol
- Being overweight, particularly weight around the middle
- Menopausal changes in women aged 40 to 60.
- An inactive, sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- Rotator cuff pain can also be triggered by life changes, including periods of stress, illness or the feeling run down.
Call 999 or go to A+E if:
- You experience pain, weakness or a sudden inability to lift your arm after suffering an injury, such as a fall or following an epileptic fit.
- You have shoulder pain and feel generally unwell and have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery.
- Your arm or shoulder has changed shape or is badly swollen.
- If you develop severe pain in both shoulders
- You have persistent pins and needles or numbness in the arm.
3 FACTS ABOUT ROTATOR CUFF PAIN
Scans do not add any value to treatment in the vast majority of cases. In fact, many people WITHOUT shoulder pain have ‘tears’ in the rotator cuff and these tears do not predict shoulder pain. Your confidence to move the arm, the strength of the shoulder and your overall health are much more important factors in your recovery.
While clicking in the shoulders can be disconcerting, it’s often very common and rarely a sign of something more serious, particularly in the absence of trauma.
Pain is not a sign that you are causing yourself harm. Using your arm and getting it stronger will reduce your shoulder pain in the long run.