Health blog Category: rotator cuff
Rotator Cuff Trouble
An irritated shoulder with certain motions or when we sleep, is a sign our rotator cuff could be giving us trouble.
Strength and stability of the rotator cuff is needed to relieve that pain or irritation and to help us complete all of our daily activities such as:
- Brushing our hair
- Brushing our teeth
- Lifting objects overhead
- Throwing a baseball
Rotator Cuff Anatomy
The rotator cuff is the group of four muscles that surround your shoulder joint, guiding and controlling the way your shoulder moves.
Read full blogRotator Cuff Tears
We often hear about the rotator cuff (RTC) and how much pain and annoyance it can cause a person. Unfortunately, most people are not given good education on the actual causes, prognosis, and anatomy of the rotator cuff. Below are some examples of causes for rotator cuff tears, anatomy of the rotator cuff, and how best to address the rotator cuff tear.
Anatomy of the RTC
The rotator cuff is a combination of a few smaller muscles of the shoulder including:
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Subscapularis
- Teres Minor
These muscles help with rotating the arm up and back.
Read full blogAvoiding Shoulder Injuries from Repetitive Movements
Shoulder issues like pain and weaknesses are some of the most common reasons people seek help from a physical therapist. This joint is held together by an extensive group of muscles and ligaments that can be weakened by certain repetitive movements.
Most of the problems that occur with the shoulder actually involve the:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
rather than the bones.
It’s not surprising that because of how much movement the shoulder has, athletes are more susceptible to shoulder injuries due to repetitive overhead training that many sports require.
Click, Pop, & Crack!
That click, pop and crack in your shoulder can develop for a variety of reasons, including:
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs protecting your joint
- Labral tears: Torn cartilage due to injury, age, or overuse
- Rotator cuff injuries: Damage to the muscles and tendons
- Dislocation: Your joint slips out of place
- Osteoarthritis: Cartilage degeneration in your joints
Anatomy of the Shoulder
The shoulder joint consists of the upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula) and the collar bone (clavicle).
Read full blogA Common Joint to Injure
The shoulder is a very common joint to injure. This is due to the nature of the joint. The shoulder joint is a very shallow joint which has mostly muscles and ligaments holding it in place in addition to a thick and stiff piece of cartilage called the labrum, which helps to vacuum seal the two bones of the shoulder in place. Since the joint has a lot of movement this can be a factor in causing injuries.
Read full blogIssues with Our Shoulder
If you are experiencing; trouble reaching into that cabinet, pain when brushing or washing your hair, or even trouble just reaching to pick things up, you’re probably dealing with a shoulder issue. There are several reasons you why you could be experiencing issues with your shoulder. Regardless of the cause, physical therapy is the solution to the problem!
Common shoulder issues you could be experiencing:
- Impingement:
- Caused by overuse, repetitive overhead motions, or poor mechanics with lifting and moving.
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis):
- Caused by any type of injury that significantly decreases range of motion at the shoulder.
Pain, Weakness, & Loss of ROM
Shoulder pain and weakness are some of the most common reasons people seek help from a medical professional. The design of the shoulder as a ball and socket joint whereas the rounded head of the humerus articulates with the cup-like depression of the scapula giving it a wide degree of movement is why the shoulder is so commonly injured.
This joint is held together by an extensive group of muscles and ligaments that can be weakened by certain types of repetitive forces.
Hurting Shoulder and No Sleep
“My shoulder pain wakes me up at night and I can’t get comfortable.”
Sound familiar?
Shoulder pain associated with sleep is one of the biggest complaints we hear when it comes to the shoulder. It is also a very common reason people seek out physical therapy.
Why is this happening?
Most often the pain occurs when lying directly on the shoulder but it can also occur laying on the uninvolved side or when on your back.
Read full blog“Ouch! I think I just tore my Rotator Cup!”
I believe the term you’re looking for is “Rotator Cuff” and its main purpose is to encapsulate the shoulder joint and provide support. Now that that is out of the way, let’s get down to business.
What is the Rotator Cuff?
The Rotator Cuff, RTC, consists of four muscles: Subscapularis, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus and Teres Minor, that all come together to stabilize the shoulder’s multi-directional movements. Whether you experience a partial or a full tear in your RTC, a lot of the same actions are happening inside of the joint.
Read full blogTendonitis in Our Shoulder
Shoulder tendonitis is a very common problem for every age group and one we treat often at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. Our patients will typically complain about:
- Pain along the front of the shoulder
- Pain with overhead activities
- Pain when lifting items
- Pain reaching behind their back
- Pain when washing their hair.
These symptoms often cause the patient to have difficulty performing day to day activities due to their limitation in range of motion, weakness and pain.
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