Causes of the pain

The pain that occurs with a rotator cuff rupture depends heavily on whether the injury is acute (e.g. due to an accident) or whether it is due to age-related wear and tear. The latter is usually less painful than an acute injury. This is because a traumatic tear often injures several tissues at the same time.

The cause of the pain is then mainly due to the damage to many sensitive vessels and nerve cells that transmit pain signals to the brain. Both acute injury and age-related rupture of the rotator cuff often cause pain in movement. The cause of the pain is based on the fact that the injured structures are stretched, compressed or otherwise stressed by certain movements, but full functional capability is no longer given.

The result is a distinct pain and the avoidance of certain movements. On the basis of the pain-inducing movements it is possible to draw conclusions about the injured tendons and ligaments. The cause of the pain is thus primarily the injury itself, but the symptoms can be intensified by external influences such as pressure on the affected area or by certain movement sequences.

How do I recognize a rotator cuff tear?

A rotator cuff rupture has numerous clear signs of what it can be recognized by. These include the typical functional impairment of the affected shoulder: other signs include muscle weakness, numbness and external signs of injury such as bruising. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will, if necessary, take X-rays and/or perform an ultrasound examination and arrange for an MRI.

Just when lifting the arm above the head
The localization of pain and frequent night pain when lying on the injured shoulder
An audible crack noise during the accident
A feeling of instability
A possible pseudoparalysis.

Restricted movement

Depending on which tendons and ligaments are affected by the rotator cuff rupture and whether it is a tear or a tear-off, the movement restrictions are more or less pronounced. Based on the various functional limitations of the shoulder after the injury, conclusions can then be drawn about the injured tissue.

If abduction (abduction) of the arm is only possible to a limited extent, this indicates an injury to the supraspinatus muscle.
If the external rotation is restricted, the infraspinatus muscle or the small round muscle can be affected by the injury.
If there are problems turning the arm inwards, it is most likely that the muscle under the shoulder blade is damaged.