Rotator Cuff Tear
The rotator cuff is comprised of a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. Together, they keep the head of your upper arm bone solidly within the socket of the shoulder. Injuries to the rotator cuff can result in a dull ache in the shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries most often occur when performing overhead motions in activities including jobs and sports. When a tear of the rotator cuff occurs, orthopedic medical care should be undertaken as soon as possible. The prevalence and risk of rotator cuff injuries usually increases with age.
While many people are able to recover from rotator cuff injuries through physical therapy and other non-surgical treatment, more severe injuries can result in the need for surgical rotator cuff repair.
Getting a Diagnosis
Diagnosis of rotator cuff injuries at Austin Sports Medicine includes a patient interview and physical exam of the various parts of the patient’s shoulder. Your doctor will test the strength of the muscles around the shoulder and in the arms. Following a clinical exam, our doctors may recommend imaging tests, including X-rays, MRIs, and Ultrasound.
Treatment of Rotator Cuff Injury
Once a patient’s tests have been conducted and assessed, the doctors at Austin Sports Medicine are able to determine a personalized course of treatment for your rotator cuff injury. Treatment options may be non-surgical, including anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections and physical therapy. In other cases, our doctors may recommend one of a variety of surgical procedures, including arthroscopic tendon repair, open tendon repair, bone spur removal, tendon transfer or shoulder replacement surgery.