Editor’s Note: In the latest installment of a monthly series on common sports injuries, Dr. Dena Florczyk, from the Arthur Ashe and Wellness Center, discusses shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries.
Shoulder Pain: Rotator Cuff Injuries
BY DENA FLORCZYK
If you have played volleyball, swimming, a racket sport or a throwing sport, you have probably heard of rotator cuff injuries of the shoulder. Shoulder pain is very common in the general population, but can be seen in higher frequency in those who participate in repetitive overhead types of sports. A rotator cuff injury can also occur because of a fall with an arm outstretched or when lifting a heavy object.
The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and muscles that attaches to the upper arm bone (humerus) that helps to provide stability to the shoulder joint as well as movement of the shoulder.
Repetitive overhead movements and activities can strain the tendons resulting in inflammation of the tendon, pain and impaired function. Reaching, pushing, pulling or positioning the arm above the level of the shoulder may further aggravate the pain. If the painful symptoms have been occurring for less than two months, this is known as tendinitis; however, when the symptoms persist for longer than two months, it is typically referred to as a tendinopathy.
A tear in a rotator cuff tendon can result from an injury, chronic tendinopathy or the combination of these two. Often, the tear is caused by a fall on an outstretched arm, lifting or pulling a heavy object, or a direct blow to the shoulder.
In addition to pain, symptoms can include weakness. Small tears in a rotator cuff tendon typically improve with cessation of the activity and doing physical therapy exercises, although larger tears may require surgical repair.
The initial treatment of a rotator cuff injury should include resting from overhead and painful activity, icing the shoulder for 10 to 20 minutes every four to six hours and taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). Proper posture in daily activities such as writing, reading, and computer work also will reduce the strain on an injured shoulder. In the early stages of recovery, gentle range of motion exercises should be performed.
As symptoms allow, strengthening exercises can begin involving rotator cuff muscles as well as mid-back muscles that are located between the shoulder blades. It is safe to return to your normal activities once the injured shoulder has regained full motion without pain and full strength.
Dr. Florczyk is a sports medicine physician at the Arthur Ashe Student Health Center.