The pain is often worse at night and when lying on the affected shoulder. When a rotator cuff tear occurs, one or more of the tendons detaches from the humerus. Minor strain injuries can progress to a partial tear of the tendons or a complete rupture of the muscles with loss of … The shoulder has a unique arrangement of muscle and bone. Lift your arm straight out to the side until you hit a spot where it hurts, then continue to lift it overhead until the pain stops.

Front view (left) and overhead view (right) of the tendons that form the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is the group of four tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Injury or inflammation to muscles and tendons in your rotator cuff can cause shoulder pain. Rotator cuff tendonitis is the mildest form of rotator cuff injury. The pain usually comes on gradually and may not appear until the day following an injury. Symptoms may include shoulder pain, which is often worse with movement, or weakness.

Rehabilitation Protocol for Rotator Cuff Repair This protocol is intended to guide clinicians and patients through the post-operative course of a rotator cuff repair.

Clicking may also occur with movement of the arm. A rotator cuff tear is an injury of one or more of the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. Apply an ice pack and rest your shoulder, taking care to not injure it further in sleep. Specific interventions should be based on the needs of the individual and should consider exam findings and clinical decision making. One possible solution is to try switching which side you sleep on each night. The pain may be most noticeable when you reach up or out. Rotator cuff damage can occur from an acute injury or repetitive wear and tear to the tendons. Difficulty using the shoulder because of pain does not always mean that there is a tear. This may limit people’s ability to brush their hair or put on clothing.
For TENS units that have 2 channels (4 pads) you can place 2 pads above the shoulder joint and 2 pads below it … This is the painful arc. Shoulder pain is the primary symptom of rotator cuff injury.

If you have rotator cuff tendinopathy, you will notice pain in the outer part of your upper arm, as well as the front and top of your shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries are the most common cause of shoulder pain and limitation of activities in sports in all age groups. Rotator cuff injuries cause pain in your shoulder and upper arm. Treat the pain and inflammation from within by having healing pineapple juice or turmeric milk. To find out if a rotator cuff tear is causing your shoulder pain, test for a “painful arc.” Put your arm down by your side with your thumb pointing away from your body. A better side-sleeping position is lying on the opposite shoulder with the painful shoulder toward the ceiling. When you turn your arm as you lift it, the tendons are more likely to rub against surrounding structures. This won’t be a totally successful fix, of course, because most people change positions during the course of the night. If the tear occurs with injury, you may experience acute pain, a snapping sensation, and immediate weakness of the arm. 3D anatomy tutorial on the rotator cuff using the free online anatomy browser BioDigital Human. The rotator cuff is four muscles connected by tendons to the humerus, or upper portion of the shoulder. Pay close attention to where the pain is worst and place the pads directly on the source. The blue arrows indicate a full-thickness tear in the supraspinatus tendon, the most common location for rotator cuff tears.