Dealing With Shoulder Injuries?
Watch this video on how shoulder injuries form:
Understanding Rotator Cuff Anatomy.
The term "Rotator cuff" describes a section of four muscles that keep your shoulder held together in its shallow socket while larger muscles move it. Understanding rotator cuff anatomy is the first step to understanding why shoulder pain happens and how it can be treated.
Strains and injuries in the rotator cuff are typically the most common cause of people experiencing shoulder problems, accounting for 4.5 million doctor visits per year. Injuries are classified by the amount of damage as "partial tears", "full-thickness tears" or "ruptures".
A "partial tear" is the result of one side of your tendon been partially frayed. A "full-thickness tear", sometimes called a "complete tear", is when there is a hole or slit in your tendon, much like what would be created by running a knife length-wise down a rope. A "rupture" is the most severe form of injury and it means that your tendon has been torn into two pieces.
What Causes Rotator Cuff Injuries?
Less than 10% of rotator cuff tears are the direct result of an acute injury like falling, pushing, pulling, throwing or lifting.
The overwhelming majority of injuries are caused by repetitive strains over a long period of time. One of the most common reasons that people start to develop a rotator cuff tear is something called "impingement". Impingement essentially means that the section where your rotator cuff tendon lives have simply become too crowded and the rotator cuff tendon is being pinched each time you raise your arm.
People who perform repeated overhead activities are usually at the greatest risk for impingement and rotator cuff tendon problems. This usually includes athletes who play baseball, volleyball, tennis, rowing, weight lifting, swimming and archery, and jobs that include carpentry, painting, wallpaper hanging, cleaning windows and washing/waxing cars. Other forms of risk factors for rotator cuff problems include smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and prior cortisone injection.
Rotator Cuff Pain Location and Symptoms
Patients who have suffered an acute rotator cuff injury often report a "tearing" or "snapping" sound and sensation that is followed by severe pain and weakness.
Most chronic strains start silently with symptoms slowly becoming more evident as the tear progresses. Rotator cuff pain location is usually the front and outside of your shoulder, but it can also radiate down your arm. These torn rotator cuff symptoms often develop gradually, which is why many patients don't connect them to a rotator cuff issue at first.
Symptoms are usually aggravated by overhead activity and may progress to the point that you have difficulty raising your arm overhead. Pain is typically made worse at night, especially when you lie on the impacted area of your shoulder. Be sure to tell us if you suffer from significant neck pain, shortness of breath, chest pain or chest pressure.
Shoulder Pain Treatment Options: In-Office and At-Home
Young patients who have suffered an acute tear or rupture in many cases will require surgery, while others will benefit from conservative, alternative treatment for shoulder pain — which is where chiropractic shoulder pain treatment can help.
Be sure to avoid painful overhead activity or carrying heavy objects.
Try not to sleep on your irritated side, especially with your arm outstretched overhead. You may benefit by sleeping on your side that has not been impacted with a pillow between your arm and trunk. Smokers should do their best to quit and find a program to help them do so, and overweight patients will recover quicker if they begin a diet and exercise program. These shoulder pain treatment at home steps work best alongside hands-on care from Dr. Alvarado or Dr. Luna, and performing your home exercises is especially important.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain
A torn rotator cuff often feels like a deep ache in the front or outside of the shoulder, sometimes with a snapping sensation at the moment of injury. Many patients notice weakness when lifting the arm overhead and pain that worsens at night, especially when lying on the affected side.
A rotator cuff injury test typically includes a physical assessment of shoulder strength, range of motion, and specific movement patterns that reproduce your pain. Dr. Alvarado uses this hands-on evaluation, combined with your history, to pinpoint which structures are involved before building your treatment plan.
Many partial tears respond well to non-surgical care, including chiropractic adjustments, targeted rehab exercises, and activity modification. Learning how to heal a torn rotator cuff naturally starts with avoiding painful overhead movement and following a customized care plan built around your specific tear.
The best treatment for shoulder pain depends on how severe the injury is. Partial tears often improve with conservative chiropractic shoulder pain treatment, while full-thickness tears or ruptures may need a referral for surgical evaluation. Dr. Alvarado will guide you toward the right path after your assessment.
