The rotator cuff is responsible for the rotation and movement of the entire shoulder joint and all of your arm. If you have ever had pain, soreness, pinching, or other discomfort in your shoulder, you most likely had a rotator cuff problem. Experiencing these symptoms when putting on your jacket, is common when dealing with a rotator cuff problem.
WHAT IS YOUR ROTATOR CUFF?
In order to better understand how your rotator cuff works you need to know what it is. The rotator cuff is made up of a group of muscles that surround your shoulder and shoulder blade. In comparison to other muscles in your body, these muscles are actually very small but also extremely important. It is their small size that makes them so vulnerable as well as prone to injury and problems.
All muscles in the rotator cuff attach to a specific part of your shoulder blade at one end, and a specific site on the humerus, the bone in your upper arm. Just like other muscles in the body, the rotator cuff muscles attach to bones via a tendon. They also twist and fit through many tight spaces in your shoulder joint. These qualities make them inherently weak and very vulnerable even with every day activities.
The rotator cuff has two major functions:
- To stabilize the shoulder and shoulder blade so that any part of the arm can move
- To create and or participate in movement of any part of the arm.
HOW DO ROTATOR CUFF PROBLEMS USUALLY START?
You can start having rotator cuff problems for any number of reasons. Typically a rotator cuff problem will start due to repetitive use of the arm. For example, shoveling, putting on your jacket, painting a room, or cleaning shelves. Other reasons for rotator cuff problems include overstretching your arm, and falling on your shoulder directly.
In all of these examples, the rotator cuff muscles are being overworked, over stressed, injured etc. When any of these things are happening, the muscles themselves are becoming tight or fatigued. When the rotator cuff muscles become tight and fatigued, the space in your shoulder joint will close up and this will in turn pinch on the rotator cuff itself or other structures in the shoulder.
Putting on your jacket after months of not having to wear one, is reintroducing this repetitive motion to your shoulder. Your shoulder isn’t used to this repetitive motion, so it becomes over worked and over stressed. Ultimately leading to pain, stiffness, soreness and difficulty with movement.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I MIGHT HAVE A ROTATOR CUFF PROBLEM?
What we usually hear from our patients dealing with a this problem is that they have stopped using their arm for things that bothered them. What is happening is the rotator cuff is still not functioning properly and while it feels better, is getting worse. Avoiding that motion doesn’t change the fact that the joint is not functioning properly.
First thing that needs to be addressed is determining what the rotator cuff is not doing or not doing enough of. Then we determine why it isn’t functioning properly. As Doctors of Physical Therapy, that is exactly what we are trained to do. Call Loudoun Sports Therapy Center TODAY at 703-450-4300 and handle your shoulder problem.
