Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff injury can make it painful to lift your arm out to the side. When one or more of the rotator cuff tendons is torn, the tendon no longer fully attaches to the head of the humerus. Most tears occur in the supraspinatus muscle and tendon, but other parts of the rotator cuff may also be involved.
There are two main different types of tears:
Acute Tear – If you fall down on your outstretched arm or lift something too heavy with a jerking motion, you can tear your rotator cuff. This type of tear can occur with other shoulder injuries, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
Degenerative Tear – Most tears are the result of a wearing down of the tendon that occurs slowly over time. This degeneration naturally occurs as we age. Rotator cuff tears are more common in the dominant arm. If you have a degenerative tear in one shoulder, there is a greater risk for a rotator cuff tear in the opposite shoulder — even if you have no pain in that shoulder.
The most common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:
· Pain at rest and at night, particularly if lying on the affected shoulder
· Pain when lifting and lowering your arm or with specific movements
· Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm
· Crepitus or crackling sensation when moving your shoulder