What’s a rotator cuff?

Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that stabilize and protect your highly mobile shoulder joint. The rotator cuff keeps the ball part of your upper arm bone (humerus) in its socket. The tendons and muscles in your rotator cuff also help you rotate your arm or raise it overhead.

How did I tear my rotator cuff?

Playing sports and doing manual labor that requires repetitive arm movements increases your risk for a torn rotator cuff. You’re more likely to tear your rotator cuff as you age, and your tissues wear down. Other causes for a potential rotator cuff injury include:

Lifting something heavy

Falling on your arm

Swinging a racket or bat

Throwing a ball

You can partially tear your rotator cuff so that it’s only stretched or frayed. You can also have a complete tear that rips the tendon in two or pulls it off the bone. When you come for an evaluation, Dr. Woodson examines your shoulder and orders an X-Ray, MRI, or other imaging studies to determine how severe your tear is.

What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?

If you’ve torn your rotator cuff, you may not be able to move your arm. Other symptoms include:

Crackling sound when you move your arm

Arm weakness

Swelling and tenderness in the shoulder

If you think you have a rotator cuff tear, immobilize your shoulder with a sling and contact Dr. Woodson.

How do orthopedists repair rotator cuffs?

Dr. Woodson tailors his treatment recommendations based on the severity of your rotator cuff tear. For partial tears, he may recommend:

Rest

Shoulder sling

Joint injections with steroids or anesthetics

Physical therapy

Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) or stem cell therapies

If you have a severe or complete tear, Dr. Woodson recommends surgery.

What happens in rotator cuff repair surgery?

Dr. Woodson uses traditional, arthroscopic, or robotic surgery to reconstruct your shoulder cuff and repair injured or torn muscles and tendons. He’s also an expert in a new shoulder-cuff repair technique.

He first increases the space for the rotator cuff tendons, so they’re less likely to fray or wear down over time. He then repairs the tear using suture anchors that attach the tendons to the shoulder bone. After your surgery, Dr. Woodson recommends physical therapy and strengthening exercises to help you heal and prevent further injury.

If you have shoulder pain or a rotator cuff tear, contact Dr. Woodson’s helpful team by phone today to schedule an appointment.