What is a rotator cuff dysfunction?
Shoulder pain is incredibly common with up to 26% of people currently suffering from pain or almost 70% of people experiencing shoulder pain in their lifetime. The majority of shoulder pain is not a serious condition and can be managed quite effectively with appropriate physiotherapy. Rotator cuff dysfunction or injury is the most common form of shoulder pain that we see. Rotator cuff tears, tendinopathy, tendinitis, impingement, shoulder bursitis are all descriptions of a rotator cuff dysfunction.
What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that helps to support your shoulder. They act as a group to keep the ball of your shoulder joint centred in it’s socket during movement. Because of how mobile your shoulder is a weakness or injury in one of these muscles can lead to altered loading or movement through your shoulder and eventually pain or affect on function.
What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff dysfunction?
Shoulder pain is the most common symptom of a rotator cuff dysfunction. There is not usually a large loss of movement with rotator cuff dysfunctions, but this can sometimes occur as a result of pain or weakness. Pain is quite often worse with overhead or reaching activities, repetitive movements, lifting or lying on the affected side.
How does a dysfunction occur?
Rotator cuff dysfunctions are usually the result of one of two causes. They can be the result of overuse; too much load going through the shoulder, usually as a result of an increase in activity and/or underlying weakness, or an injury such as catching a falling object. There may be other factors involved such as poor posture, stiffness in your neck or back, and poor technique with activities such as sports or gardening.
How do we manage this?
The best way to treat rotator cuff dysfunction is by strengthening the muscles so that they can cope with the amount of load being put through your shoulder. We know strengthening programs take around 12 weeks of consistent and monitored exercise and that they are also extremely effective at reducing pain and improving function. These exercises work regardless of if you have had a tear, tendinopathy, bursitis or combination of the above.
We also know that addressing contributing factors to the shoulder pain can help to reduce pain and improve function. For example improving mobility in your neck or upper back can immediately improve movement or reduce pain. Hands on therapy, dry needling, shockwave therapy and taping can all be effective management techniques but should be in conjunction with an exercise program.
Conclusion
If you think you may have a rotator cuff dysfunction call 8265 5859 or click https://www.backinmotion.com.au/valley-view/make-a-booking to book in for a Free Initial Assessment with one of our physiotherapists.
Author Kent Jordan, Back In Motion Valley View