| The term "rotator cuff" defines the group of muscles | | | | through exercise will provide the rotator cuff with more |
| and tendons that surround the shoulder. These | | | | resistance to damage. Abstaining from activities that |
| muscles and tendons essentially "cuff" around the | | | | require excessive and repetitive use of the rotator |
| head of the humerus, otherwise known as the long | | | | cuff, such as throwing a baseball, can also help reduce |
| bone of the arm, holding it to the scapula, otherwise | | | | the risk. Along these lines, using good judgment, and |
| known as the shoulder blade. Responsible for much of | | | | not catching or lifting objects that are too heavy can |
| the shoulder's stability, the rotator cuff is made up of | | | | help keep the rotator cuff from tearing. Finally, taking |
| four muscles, the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the | | | | frequent breaks when overhead use of the arms is |
| teres minor, and the subscapularis. A rotator cuff injury | | | | required, such as when painting a house, and giving |
| happens when one of these four muscles is damaged. | | | | these muscles an adequate amount of rest in |
| This can occur suddenly, or it can develop gradually | | | | between movements can help prevent injuries. |
| over time. The injuries can also be minor, with no | | | | Treatment of Rotator Cuff |
| permanent damage, or be severe enough to require | | | | In the invent that a rotator cuff does tear there are a |
| surgery. | | | | variety of treatment options. These options all aspire to |
| What are the Causes | | | | relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and reclaim strength, |
| Rotator cuff injuries can be caused by a variety of | | | | function, and flexibility. While all maintaining a common |
| things. First of all, chronic tears, or tears that progress | | | | goal, these treatment options can vary depending on |
| over time, are often found in jobs that require | | | | the age, activity level, and occupation of the injured. |
| excessive rotator cuff use. These can include painters, | | | | While severe rotator cuff injuries may be repaired |
| construction workers, and baseball players. On the | | | | surgically, many can be helped in non-surgical manners. |
| other end of the spectrum are acute tears. These are | | | | These treatments may include resting the shoulder in a |
| tears that occur suddenly and usually involve a large | | | | sling, gently moving it from time to time to avoid |
| amount of force. These tears can happen when lifting | | | | stiffness; using a heating pad, a bag of ice, or pain |
| an extremely heavy object, or falling on a shoulder. | | | | medications; avoiding activities and positions that seem |
| Rotator cuffs can also tear because tendonitis. | | | | to aggravate the pain; and strengthening the |
| But, Rotator cuff injuries aren't always the result of an | | | | surrounding shoulder muscles. |
| occupation, an accident, or a condition. They can also | | | | Physical therapy is also a form of treatment sought by |
| be caused by advanced age. Rotator cuff injuries | | | | many with rotator cuff injuries. Through physical |
| from old age often occur when the tendons | | | | therapy, a person is taught exercises and stretches |
| comprising the cuff are rubbed up against a bone. In a | | | | that strengthen the muscle, gradually restoring function. |
| normal rotator cuff there is a small sac of fluid (the | | | | Many of these exercises can even be performed at |
| subacromial bursa) that cushions the tendons against | | | | home. Physical therapy also provides the injured with |
| the bones. When inflammation sets in, due to things like | | | | information on muscle function, support, and tips for |
| calcium deposits, this cushion becomes smaller, allowing | | | | prevention. |
| the tendons to be squeezed and ultimately rubbed | | | | About Us: The Center for Osteopathic Medicine in |
| against the bones. This causes damage to the tendon, | | | | Boulder, Colorado believes in The Osteopathic |
| leaving the tendons, over time, stringy, weak, and more | | | | Difference. In a medical industry focused on treating |
| likely to tear. | | | | symptoms, The Center is more focused on finding the |
| Risks of Rotator Cuff Injuries | | | | cause of these symptoms. The Osteopathic |
| There are several risk factors that can cause rotator | | | | Difference is the application of "Hands on |
| cuff injuries. To begin, people who are born with | | | | Therapeutics" for both the diagnosis and treatment of |
| irregularly shaped bones can have a rotator cuff that | | | | complaints, disorders, and pain. The Osteopathic |
| moves abnormally, causing quicker degeneration of the | | | | Difference will apply the time proven osteopathic fact |
| tendons. A person's age is also a risk factor. People | | | | that function is directly related to structure, and poor |
| who are older are more likely to have normal wear | | | | structure will lead to poor function. |
| and tear of the rotator cuff, as well as decreased | | | | While The Center tries to focus on health, and above |
| blood supply to the tendons and thinning of the | | | | all else, prevention for all those who cross into its |
| tendons. Age aside, people who engage in repetitive | | | | threshold, sometimes the best that can be done is to |
| activities that involve force on the shoulder are more | | | | recognize the source of the "DIS-EASE," and to teach |
| likely to be subject to a rotator cuff injury. Additionally, | | | | every individual how to manage their symptoms. |
| joint looseness and an imbalance of the muscles can | | | | Believing that it is the most important aspect of any |
| also play a large role in how easily a rotator cuff will | | | | treatment regime, and that it is the primary job of the |
| tear. | | | | health care practitioner, The Center works to |
| The risk of a rotator cuff injury can also be increased | | | | empower the patient in the maintenance of their own |
| with any kind of lifestyle that impedes a person's | | | | health. |
| health. Smoking, for instance, decreases blood flow | | | | Achieving health is also an elusive place, and The |
| and blood supply, slowing the healing process of any | | | | Center will work tirelessly to create a path to health |
| injuries that have been sustained. | | | | which, when embraced by the patient over time, will |
| Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries | | | | allow the patient to enjoy a positive return on their |
| The most common symptom of a rotator cuff injury is | | | | rehabilitation investment. The Center teaches a |
| pain, but stiffness and an overall weakness of the | | | | Mindfulness Yoga Program that aims to educate the |
| shoulder are also typically present. A person with an | | | | patient in the power of the mind to minimize, if not rid |
| unknown tear may find activities such as parting their | | | | the body of, aches and pain. Although the ultimate goal |
| hair, brushing their teeth, or getting a can of soup out of | | | | of health is to live without the use of drugs, natural or |
| the pantry difficult or impossible. The pain is usually | | | | otherwise, The Center for Osteopathic Medicine |
| localized to the front and side of the shoulder, as well | | | | recognizes the importance of medicinals and their |
| as the upper arm. | | | | appropriate use. All styles of "Hands on Manipulation" |
| While the pain may be stable, and involve different | | | | are practiced at The Center. By combining these |
| degrees, it will almost always increase when the arm is | | | | Manipulative techniques with Structural Integration, |
| raised overhead. Rotator cuff injuries that are minor | | | | massage, meditation and Western Medicine, The |
| are usually classified by pain only when active, | | | | Center for Osteopathic Medicine helps people to |
| particularly when raising the arms. Minor injuries are | | | | identify disease before it manifests, quiet pains that |
| usually not painful when a person is at rest. Those with | | | | have been previously diagnosed as Chronic, and |
| moderate damage will have pain during activity and | | | | embrace a holistic mindset to Live in the Present- and |
| directly after activity. There may also be pain at night | | | | within that presence, live completely well. |
| and an interruption of sleep. For those with severe | | | | The information discussed in this article is for |
| damage, continuous pain will be present. | | | | informational and educational purposes only. If you are |
| Prevention of Rotator Cuff Injuries | | | | experiencing symptoms of a health problem, please |
| While not all injuries can be prevented, there are a few | | | | visit your doctor. The material discussed on this |
| things that can be done to decrease their risk. For | | | | website is not meant to replace the opinion or |
| instance, keeping the muscles strong and flexible | | | | diagnosis of a medical professional. |