Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment
What is a Rotator Cuff Injury?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that work together to stabilise the shoulder joint and help control shoulder movement.
These muscles are:
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Subscapularis
- Teres Minor
Together they help keep the shoulder stable whilst allowing you to lift, reach and rotate your arm.
A rotator cuff injury can affect one or more of these tendons and is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain.
Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury
Common symptoms include:
- Pain when lifting the arm
- Pain reaching overhead
- Difficulty reaching behind your back
- Pain when lying on the affected shoulder
- Weakness lifting or rotating the arm
- Night pain that disturbs sleep
Symptoms often develop gradually but can also occur suddenly following an injury.
What Causes Rotator Cuff Injuries?
Rotator cuff problems can develop for several reasons.
Trauma
A fall, heavy lifting injury or sudden movement can strain or tear one of the rotator cuff tendons.
Repetitive Overuse
Repeated overhead activities at work, in sport or during everyday life can gradually irritate the tendons.
Age-related Degeneration
As we get older, the tendons naturally become less resilient and more prone to irritation or tearing.
Posture and Shoulder Mechanics
Poor posture or altered movement of the shoulder blade may reduce the space available for the rotator cuff tendons as the arm lifts.
Over time this can lead to irritation and inflammation of the tendon.
How Do We Assess Rotator Cuff Injuries?
Shoulder pain is not always caused by the rotator cuff.
During your assessment we aim to determine whether your symptoms are coming from:
- the rotator cuff tendons
- the shoulder joint itself
- the neck
- surrounding muscles
- another shoulder condition, such as frozen shoulder or arthritis
This allows us to recommend the most appropriate treatment for your individual problem.
How Are Rotator Cuff Injuries Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of injury and how irritated the tissues have become.
In many cases, physiotherapy can help reduce pain and improve shoulder function without the need for more invasive treatment.
Depending on your assessment, treatment may include:
- Joint mobilisation
- Soft tissue therapy
- Medical acupuncture
- Laser therapy
- Pulsed shortwave therapy
- Individual rehabilitation exercises
- Postural advice
- Shoulder strengthening exercises
Where symptoms are severe or fail to improve, we may discuss referral for further investigation or medical management, which may include corticosteroid injection or consultation with an orthopaedic shoulder specialist.
Can Rotator Cuff Injuries Lead to Frozen Shoulder?
Sometimes.
When pain causes someone to stop moving the shoulder, stiffness can gradually develop.
Although not every rotator cuff injury progresses to frozen shoulder, prolonged inflammation and reduced movement may increase the risk in some patients.
Early assessment and appropriate treatment may help reduce this risk.
Can Pilates Help?
Once pain has settled and movement begins to improve, Pilates-based rehabilitation may help restore normal shoulder function.
Pilates can help improve:
- posture
- shoulder blade control
- upper back mobility
- core stability
- movement patterns
Our physiotherapists can advise whether Pilates would be appropriate as part of your recovery. Read more about Pilates at Corsham Physiotherapy here.
Why Choose Corsham Physiotherapy?
At Corsham Physiotherapy, we aim to identify the underlying cause of your shoulder pain rather than simply treating the symptoms.
Following a thorough assessment, we will discuss whether physiotherapy is likely to be effective or whether further investigations or specialist referral may be appropriate.
Early treatment often provides the best opportunity to settle inflammation, restore movement and help prevent more persistent shoulder problems.
Book a Rotator Cuff Assessment
If shoulder pain is affecting your work, sleep or everyday activities, our experienced physiotherapists can assess your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Book your appointment with Corsham Physiotherapy today. Please get in touch with our friendly reception team by using the contact details here.
We regularly treat patients from Corsham, Chippenham, Melksham, Bradford on Avon, Calne, Box, Lacock, Devizes, Trowbridge and Bath.