Definition
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that is almost completely surrounded, guided, moved and stabilized by muscles. The muscle that has a significant influence on the mobility of the shoulder is the so-called “rotator cuff“. The rotator cuff, together with the biceps muscle and numerous other muscles and ligaments, enables the many movements in the shoulder joint.
The tendons of the musculature that attach the muscle to a bone can be damaged, inflamed or ruptured for various reasons. The movement of the shoulder is involved in all everyday activities. Damage to the muscles and the tendon apparatus of the shoulder therefore has a considerable impact on everyday movements.
Causes
The causes of a torn tendon in the shoulder can be numerous. The narrow structures in the joint, as well as the multiple involvement of the shoulder in movements in everyday life and sports, lead to a susceptibility to injury. Accident-related, degenerative or inflammatory causes can thus be distinguished from one another.
One of the most frequent causes of torn tendons in the shoulder is accidents. Tendons can tear as a result of jerky movements or the application of heavy force. In many cases, the tendons have already been pre-damaged by previous strain, which is why there is a combination of several causes.
The most important causes of accidents involving torn tendons in the shoulder are falls on the outstretched arm and sudden forces acting on the bent forearms. Sudden holding on to the shoulder during a fall or jerky direct influences on the upper arm can also lead to torn tendons. This mainly affects tendons of the rotator cuff and the biceps muscle in the upper arm.
You can find more information about biceps tendon rupture and which exercises help with healing here: Torn biceps tendon and physiotherapy for torn biceps tendon Other common causes of torn shoulder tendons are degenerative changes in the tendons. This means that signs of wear and tear of the tendons have already developed over a long period of time. Very typical are signs of wear and tear of parts of the rotator cuff musculature due to the spatial narrowness in the shoulder joint.
The space in the shoulder joint is severely restricted by the acromion. Due to bony attachments, calcification and permanent rubbing during movements in the shoulder, the tendons can wear out over years and suddenly tear due to minor strains. In addition, there is reduced blood flow to the tendons below the acromion, which makes them more susceptible and vulnerable.
In rare cases, an inflammatory rheumatic cause can also be behind the rupture of the tendons in the shoulder. Rheumatic diseases can be deposited in joints and lead to inflammation. The inflammations can affect the cartilage, the bursa, the joint mucosa, as well as tendons and muscles.
This leads to inflammation of the tendons with swelling, which soften and become unstable. Here, too, the tendon often tears after a long period of previous damage due to a so-called “inadequate trauma”. This means that the tendon tears suddenly, although the force applied was only slight.
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