Symptoms of rotator cuff rupture | Physiotherapy for rotator cuff rupture

Symptoms of rotator cuff rupture

The symptoms of a rotator cuff rupture differ depending on its cause.

• If the tendon tears in an accident, the affected person suffers from acute stabbing shoulder and arm pain.
• In the case of large cracks, certain movements such as spreading or lifting the arm may no longer be able to be performed completely or at all. In the latter case one speaks of a pseudoparalysis.
• Wear-related rotator cuff tears are much more common.

  This means that the tendon has been overloaded for many years and is therefore no longer as tear-resistant. If there are only small tears, the affected person often remains free of complaints. The pain only increases as the condition progresses.

• Even at night at rest, sufferers are plagued by pain – lying on the affected side is impossible.
• In addition to the pain, a functional disorder in the sense of restricted movement and reduced strength in the arm can also occur.

  As a result, everyday activities, especially overhead work, can no longer be mastered. The quality of life can be impaired. If the affected person then adopts a relieving posture, the shoulder becomes increasingly stiff.

Possible cause of a rotator cuff rupture

If acute shoulder pain develops after a fall on the outstretched arm or if shoulder pain has crept in over the years due to overstrain or wear and tear, the reason may be a tear in the so-called rotator cuff. This muscle group secures the head of humerus in the joint socket and ensures that the shoulder is lifted and rotated safely. If one or more muscles or tendons of this muscle group travel, this is known as a rotator cuff rupture (torn shoulder tendon).

It usually affects the tendon of the upper bone muscle (supraspinatus tendon), since it is constricted by bony structures of the acromion and cannot move in the event of excessive or incorrect loading or wear. The consequence: The tendon tears. More frequently affected are pre-damaged tendons, e.g.B.

through many years of overhead work or overhead sports like tennis. The older the person is, the more likely a rotator cuff tear is. In fact, almost every second person over the age of 70 is affected.