"Common Causes of Shoulder Pain: What You Need to Know"

Rotator cuff (Rotator cuff in English) is the name given to the 4 muscles of the shoulder that provide stability and strength. They are also known by the acronym SITS, referring to the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor (teres minor) and subscapularis. They originate from the scapula and insert into the head of the humerus, forming a cuff around the glenohumeral joint.

The most common rotator cuff injuries Rotator cuff injuries can occur at any age.

Most injuries in young people occur as a result of trauma or overuse of this joint, so injuries of this type are common in volleyball, crossfit, calisthenics, tennis, etc.

The incidence of injuries increases with age, however, 65.3% of all rotator cuff pathologies are asymptomatic. (Minagawa et al., 2013)Partial or total tear of the muscles or tendons.

Tendinitis (acute inflammation of some of the tendons).

Tendinopathy (chronic irritation or degeneration of some of the tendons).

Subacromial syndrome (pain caused by any of the tissues found in the subacromial space).

It is important to note that rotator cuff tears or injuries are not always associated with pain or loss of function.

The most common symptoms of rotator cuff injuries

-Pain (may or may not be present). It can be located in the anterior or lateral part of the shoulder, with pain referred to the upper arm

-Painful range of motion

-Painful arch (range varies, but usually 90 ° to 120 °)

The most painful movements are :

-External/internal rotation and abduction

-Muscle weakness especially in abduction and external rotation

-Patients have difficulty lifting or pushing with the affected arm, as well as difficulty with movements above the head or behind the back.

Most common treatments for rotator cuff diseases

-Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs)

-Modification of physical activity, use of ice, heat, iontophoresis, TENS, PEMF or phonophoresis.

-Rehabilitation exercises.In some cases, corticosteroid (or sodium hyaluronate) injections into the subacromial space along with specific exercises to increase strength and range of motion.

-If conservative treatment fails, surgical repair has shown moderate to excellent results. (Teruhisa, 2019)