What you should know about Rotator Cuff Disorders
Find out treatments, diagnosis, and symptoms of rotator cuff disorder

What are rotator cuff disorders?
Rotator cuff disorders are characterized by tendons around the shoulder that are irritated and damaged. These disorders include inflammation, calcium buildup, and tears of the tendon.
What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is defined as a group of four tendons and their related muscles that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow you to raise and rotate your arm. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with three main bones: the upper arm bone, the collarbone, and the shoulder blade. These bones are held together by muscles, ligaments, tendons, and the joint capsule. The rotator cuff helps keep the arm bone seated into the socket of the shoulder blade.
What causes rotator cuff disorders?
Rotator cuff disorders are caused by a number of factors. For example, normal wear and tear slowly damages the rotator cuff. In addition, irritation of the cuff can be caused by repetitive stresses to the rotator cuff from activities or overuse. Irregularly shaped shoulder bones may also contribute to the disorder. Tennis, swimming, or house painting can also lead to rotator cuff disorder, as they utilize repetitive movements of the shoulder that may inflame the tendons.
Rotator cuff disorders may begin with bleeding, abrasion, and swelling that can lead to a cycle of inflammation and damage. Scar tissue replaces healthy tendon tissue over time, and the tendons become stiff, stringy, and more fragile. Inflammation in one or more tendons may be caused by age-related degeneration, impingement, continued overuse, or repetitive movement. A painful condition called calcific tendonitis occurs when calcium builds up in the rotator cuff tendons. When the rotator cuff is already scarred, weakened, or damaged tears to the rotator cuff tendons are more likely to occur. A complete rotator cuff tear in a person with an otherwise healthy shoulder is most often caused by an extremely forceful injury.
What are the symptoms of Rotator Cuff Disorders?
Symptoms of rotator cuff disorders include weakness, pain, and stiffness in the shoulder. Generally you will feel the pain of rotator cuff damage on the front and side of the shoulder and upper arm. The extent of the pain depends entirely on the injury, although it may increase as you raise your arm above the shoulder.
How are rotator cuff disorders diagnosed?
Diagnosing a rotator cuff disorder involves questions about your injury or tendon pain history. You may also be subjected to a physical exam to examine your shoulder function and to locate painful areas. An X-ray may also be taken.
Treatments of rotator cuff disorder
Your treatment depends on the kind of damage you have and on the severity of your symptoms. You may need physical therapy to strengthen your shoulder, or you may be able to treat symptoms at home by giving your shoulder a rest and using ice packs or heated pads.