Rotator Cuff Injury

13 Jun Rotator Cuff Injury

If you have suffered a rotator cuff injury and are seeking a Brooklyn orthopedist, Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation can help.

If you’re a baseball pitcher or work a construction job, you may be familiar with the rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is located at the shoulder joint and is what holds the joint in place while also allowing the arm to be mobile. When swinging your arm up and down, especially from overhead as a baseball pitcher does, this group of muscles and tendons can tear or move out of place, causing pain and potentially immobility of the shoulder joint.

Often, this injury is reported due to overuse of the arm while playing sports or doing a lot of physical activity involving the shoulders, but can also occur over time as muscles and tendons tend to degenerate. If you think you’ve suffered a rotator cuff injury, a Brooklyn orthopedist can help you. But first, let’s see if the symptoms you have are consistent with a rotator cuff injury.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include:

• An aching pain within the shoulder joint
• Swelling near the shoulder joint
• Pain and difficulty when attempting to reach backward overhead
• Weakness in the arm muscles
• Clicking when attempting to rotate the arm

If you have any of these symptoms, you may have a rotator cuff injury and should seek out a Brooklyn orthopedist to help treat and manage the injury.

Causes

Rotator cuff injuries can be caused by many factors, whether it be a direct injury or just weakness over time. Some of the potential causes of your injury include:

• Consistent Sports: If you play sports that involve heavy use of the arm and shoulder muscles, it can lead to what is called an “overuse injury” of the rotator cuff.
• Impact: While playing sports or doing any other activity that utilizes the shoulder muscles, an impact of a ball or a fall to the ground can injure the rotator cuff.
• Aging: As we age, our muscles and tendons become weaker, and in turn can cause more pain and injuries.
• Genes: Sometimes our genes determine our fate. Weakened muscles and tendons can be hereditary and can occur in anyone at any time. It’s good to be aware of family histories of injuries in order to take preventative measures.

What a Brooklyn Orthopedist Can Do For You

Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation can help if you believe you have the above symptoms consistent with rotator cuff injuries. In severe cases, surgery to repair the tendons may be necessary. However, often recommended treatment includes resting, applying ice, light exercise, and injections to quell the pain.

If you’ve suffered a rotator cuff injury, contact Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation. Our Brooklyn orthopedist will work patiently with you to help you reach recovery in a timely manner.