Rotator Cuff Muscle Strain
These are a group of muscles that help to stabilise the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) whilst also rotating it. The muscles that make up the rotator cuff are; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. Supraspinatus and infraspinatus are most commonly injured due to their action of providing a lot of shoulder rotation. With rotator cuff injuries either the muscle/tendon can be damaged or inflammation around these can cause impingement (pinching) of surrounding structures.
Symptoms:
- Acute
- Pain and tearing feeling giving severe pain
- Painful raising arm out to the side
- Very pin point pain
- Chronic
- Usually found on dominant side
- 40+ usually with gradual onset of pain and some weakness
- Difficult to raise arm in most ranges of movement
- Can lead to impingement syndromes
