| The term "rotator cuff" defines the group
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| | unknown tear may find activities such as
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| of muscles and tendons that surround the
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| | parting their hair, brushing their teeth,
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| shoulder. These muscles and tendons
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| | or getting a can of soup out of the
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| essentially "cuff" around the head of the
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| | pantry difficult or impossible. The pain
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| humerus, otherwise known as the long bone
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| | is usually localized to the front and
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| of the arm, holding it to the scapula,
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| | side of the shoulder, as well as the
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| otherwise known as the shoulder blade.
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| | upper arm.
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| Responsible for much of the shoulder's
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| stability, the rotator cuff is made up of
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| | While the pain may be stable, and
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| four muscles, the supraspinatus, the
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| | involve different degrees, it will almost
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| infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the
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| | always increase when the arm is raised
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| subscapularis. A rotator cuff injury
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| | overhead. Rotator cuff injuries that are
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| happens when one of these four muscles is
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| | minor are usually classified by pain only
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| damaged. This can occur suddenly, or it
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| | when active, particularly when raising
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| can develop gradually over time. The
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| | the arms. Minor injuries are usually not
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| injuries can also be minor, with no
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| | painful when a person is at rest. Those
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| permanent damage, or be severe enough to
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| | with moderate damage will have pain
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| require surgery.
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| | during activity and directly after
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| | activity. There may also be pain at night
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| What are the Causes
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| | and an interruption of sleep. For those
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| Rotator cuff injuries can be caused by a
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| | with severe damage, continuous pain will
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| variety of things. First of all, chronic
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| | be present.
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| tears, or tears that progress over time,
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| are often found in jobs that require
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| | Prevention of Rotator Cuff Injuries
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| excessive rotator cuff use. These can
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| | While not all injuries can be prevented,
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| include painters, construction workers,
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| | there are a few things that can be done
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| and baseball players. On the other end of
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| | to decrease their risk. For instance,
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| the spectrum are acute tears. These are
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| | keeping the muscles strong and flexible
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| tears that occur suddenly and usually
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| | through exercise will provide the rotator
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| involve a large amount of force. These
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| | cuff with more resistance to damage.
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| tears can happen when lifting an
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| | Abstaining from activities that require
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| extremely heavy object, or falling on a
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| | excessive and repetitive use of the
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| shoulder. Rotator cuffs can also tear
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| | rotator cuff, such as throwing a
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| because tendonitis.
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| | baseball, can also help reduce the risk.
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| | Along these lines, using good judgment,
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| But, Rotator cuff injuries aren't always
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| | and not catching or lifting objects that
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| the result of an occupation, an accident,
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| | are too heavy can help keep the rotator
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| or a condition. They can also be caused
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| | cuff from tearing. Finally, taking
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| by advanced age. Rotator cuff injuries
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| | frequent breaks when overhead use of the
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| from old age often occur when the tendons
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| | arms is required, such as when painting a
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| comprising the cuff are rubbed up against
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| | house, and giving these muscles an
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| a bone. In a normal rotator cuff there is
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| | adequate amount of rest in between
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| a small sac of fluid (the subacromial
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| | movements can help prevent injuries.
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| bursa) that cushions the tendons against
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| the bones. When inflammation sets in, due
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| | Treatment of Rotator Cuff
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| to things like calcium deposits, this
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| | In the invent that a rotator cuff does
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| cushion becomes smaller, allowing the
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| | tear there are a variety of treatment
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| tendons to be squeezed and ultimately
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| | options. These options all aspire to
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| rubbed against the bones. This causes
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| | relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and
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| damage to the tendon, leaving the
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| | reclaim strength, function, and
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| tendons, over time, stringy, weak, and
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| | flexibility. While all maintaining a
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| more likely to tear.
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| | common goal, these treatment options can
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| | vary depending on the age, activity
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| Risks of Rotator Cuff Injuries
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| | level, and occupation of the injured.
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| There are several risk factors that can
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| cause rotator cuff injuries. To begin,
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| | While severe rotator cuff injuries may
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| people who are born with irregularly
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| | be repaired surgically, many can be
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| shaped bones can have a rotator cuff that
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| | helped in non-surgical manners. These
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| moves abnormally, causing quicker
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| | treatments may include resting the
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| degeneration of the tendons. A person's
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| | shoulder in a sling, gently moving it
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| age is also a risk factor. People who are
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| | from time to time to avoid stiffness;
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| older are more likely to have normal wear
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| | using a heating pad, a bag of ice, or
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| and tear of the rotator cuff, as well as
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| | pain medications; avoiding activities and
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| decreased blood supply to the tendons and
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| | positions that seem to aggravate the
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| thinning of the tendons. Age aside,
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| | pain; and strengthening the surrounding
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| people who engage in repetitive
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| | shoulder muscles.
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| activities that involve force on the
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| shoulder are more likely to be subject to
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| | Physical therapy is also a form of
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| a rotator cuff injury. Additionally,
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| | treatment sought by many with rotator
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| joint looseness and an imbalance of the
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| | cuff injuries. Through physical therapy,
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| muscles can also play a large role in how
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| | a person is taught exercises and
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| easily a rotator cuff will tear.
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| | stretches that strengthen the muscle,
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| | gradually restoring function. Many of
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| The risk of a rotator cuff injury can
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| | these exercises can even be performed at
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| also be increased with any kind of
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| | home. Physical therapy also provides the
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| lifestyle that impedes a person's health.
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| | injured with information on muscle
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| Smoking, for instance, decreases blood
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| | function, support, and tips for
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| flow and blood supply, slowing the
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| | prevention.
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| healing process of any injuries that have
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| been sustained.
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| | About Us: The Center for Osteopathic
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| | Medicine in Boulder, Colorado believes in
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| Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries
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| | The Osteopathic Difference. In a medical
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| The most common symptom of a rotator
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| | industry focused on treating symptoms,
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| cuff injury is pain, but stiffness and an
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| | The Center is more focused on finding the
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| overall weakness of the shoulder are also
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| | cause of these symptoms.
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| typically present. A person with an
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