What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. These help to hold the arm bone securely in place in the shoulder socket.
Rotator cuff injuries
When injury occurs to the rotator cuff, typically, there is a tear in the muscles or tendons that causes a dull ache in the shoulder, weakness, and decreased range of motion. Rotator cuff injuries often occur due to wear and tear on the tendons over time. Injury can also occur from repetitive overhead activity, heavy lifting, accidents, or falls. There are some risk factors associated with rotator cuff injuries, these include:
Age: Rotator cuff injuries are more common in people of 60 years or older.
Certain occupations: Jobs that require constant overhead activity are at risk for injury.
Certain sports: Sports like baseball, tennis, and weight lifting are more commonly associated with injury
Family history: Genetics play a role in rotator cuff injuries. People who have a family history of rotator cuff injuries may be more at risk than others
How can a chiropractor help?
Here at JP Chiropractic, our doctor of chiropractic care can assess the injury and rehabilitate the rotator cuff to relieve pain and restore range of motion in the affected arm. With rotator cuff injuries, people may experience pinched or inflamed nerves causing severe pain. Our doctor of chiropractic can offer spinal manipulation to realign the spine and decrease inflammation, electric stimulation to relax the affected muscles and decrease any muscle spasming, hot and cold therapy to reduce inflammation, and he can provide specific exercises to increase flexibility and strength and to restore proper range of motion to the rotator cuff muscles
