HomeHealth TopicsInjuries WoundsRotator Cuff Injuries
Back to Injuries Wounds
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Injuries Wounds

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are common conditions involving the muscles and tendons of the shoulder, often caused by repetitive motion or wear and tear.

What is a rotator cuff?

Your rotator cuff is part of your shoulder joint. It's a group of muscles and tendons that holds the top part of your upper arm bone firmly in your shoulder socket. The rotator cuff keeps your shoulder stable when you move your arm in any direction.

What are rotator cuff injuries?

Rotator cuff injuries are common. Most of them are wear-and-tear injuries from doing the same arm movements over and over—especially reaching over your head. With time, the tissues in the rotator cuff break down, leading to these injuries:

  • Tendinitis. The tendons in the rotator cuff connect your muscles to your shoulder bones. In tendinitis, the tendons become irritated and swollen from being pinched during shoulder movements.
  • Bursitis. The bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that pads the space between the rotator cuff and the bones of your shoulder. Bursitis happens when the muscle and bone rub the bursa too much. It swells with extra fluid, which causes pain.
  • Rotator cuff tears. Tears in a rotator cuff tendon can happen over time or suddenly from an injury, such as falling on an outstretched arm or lifting something heavy. A tear may go part way through a tendon (partial tear) or all the way through (full tear).

Who is more likely to develop a rotator cuff injury?

Anyone can develop a rotator cuff injury. But certain people are more likely to have one:

  • People over age 40. Most rotator cuff injuries are from the wear and tear of aging. By age 80, most adults have tears.
  • Athletes. Playing sports with repeated shoulder movements increases the risk of a rotator cuff injury, for example, tennis, swimming, and baseball—especially pitching.
  • People in jobs that require a lot of reaching overhead or heavy lifting. Carpenters, construction workers, and painters are examples of workers who may be more likely to have rotator cuff problems.

What are the symptoms of rotator cuff injuries?

Rotator cuff injuries don't always cause pain. But when they do, the pain is often in the top part of your arm or shoulder. You may feel more pain when you:

  • Lie down, especially on the injured shoulder
  • Lift your arm or lower it to the front or side
  • Reach behind your back

Other symptoms from a torn rotator cuff may include:

  • Loss of strength in the arm
  • Clicking or popping sounds when you move your arm

How are rotator cuff injuries diagnosed?

To find out if you have a rotator cuff injury, your health care provider:

  • Will examine your shoulder. This includes checking the range of motion and where the pain is.
  • Will test your arm and shoulder strength.
  • May order imaging tests, such as x-rays, an ultrasound, or an MRI scan.

What are the treatments for rotator cuff injuries?

The best treatment for you depends on your age, how much your injury bothers you, and whether your injury was sudden or happened from wear and tear.

Treatments for rotator cuff injuries often include:

  • Rest
  • Putting ice or a cold pack on the sore area
  • Pain relievers to lessen pain and swelling, such as ibuprofen or aspirin
  • Physical therapy exercises to strengthen your shoulder and improve movement
  • A corticosteroid shot into your shoulder joint if other treatments don't help with the pain

Treatments for rotator cuff tendinitis and bursitis may also include ultrasound therapy. Surgery may be an option if your shoulder doesn't feel better in 6 to 12 months.

Treatments for a torn rotator cuff may also include heat to the sore area or electrical stimulation of the nerves and muscles (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS).

Your provider may suggest surgery if your tear is large or is from a recent injury, or symptoms last for 6 to 12 months.

When should I see a health care provider for shoulder pain?

If certain activities bother your shoulder, it's best to stop doing them and check with your provider. That's because early treatment can prevent mild rotator cuff injuries from becoming more serious later on. If your arm feels weak right after a sudden injury to your shoulder, see your provider as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tendinitis usually causes a dull, aching pain that worsens with overhead activities and may improve with rest, though it can linger. A partial tear often presents with more specific weakness, such as difficulty lifting your arm away from your body or holding it up, in addition to pain. You might also feel a clicking or popping sensation when moving your shoulder. If you experience a sudden loss of strength after an injury, or if the pain persists at rest and disrupts sleep, it is more likely to be a tear, and an MRI is typically needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Recovery time varies significantly depending on the severity of the injury. Mild tendinitis may resolve in a few weeks with rest and physical therapy. Partial tears can take several months to heal, often requiring a structured rehabilitation program. Full-thickness tears that require surgery typically involve a recovery period of six months to a year, including a sling phase, passive range-of-motion exercises, and gradual strengthening. Factors such as age, overall health, adherence to physical therapy, and whether the tear was acute or chronic all play a major role in the speed of recovery.
void activities that involve repetitive overhead motions, such as painting ceilings, reaching for high shelves, or swimming strokes that stress the shoulder. Lifting heavy objects with your arms extended away from your body should also be minimized. When performing daily tasks, try to keep your elbows close to your torso and use your legs to lift rather than your back and shoulders. If you must perform overhead work, take frequent breaks and use assistive tools like step stools to reduce the need for extreme shoulder extension.
Focus on isometric exercises, which involve contracting the muscle without moving the joint, such as pressing your palm against a wall and pushing gently without moving your arm. As pain subsides, progress to external and internal rotation exercises using a light resistance band, keeping your elbow tucked by your side. It is vital to avoid overhead lifting or repetitive reaching motions that caused the initial injury. Always start with low resistance and stop immediately if you feel sharp pain, as overexertion can convert a tendinitis into a tear.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

kontakt@hittavard.se

Ⓒ 2024. Alla rättigheter förbehålls av juxt ab

Sök
Om ossVillkor och policyVanliga frågorKontakta oss