Sprains and Strains—Rotator Cuff Injuries

Your rotator cuff is located in your shoulder area. It is made of muscles and tendons. It helps your shoulder to move and stay stable. Problems with the rotator cuff are common. They include tendinitis, bursitis, and injuries such as tears.

Rotator cuff tendons can become inflamed from frequent use or aging. Sometimes they are injured from a fall on an outstretched hand. Sports or jobs with repeated overhead motion can also damage the rotator cuff. Aging causes tendons to wear down, which can lead to a tear.

Some tears are not painful, but others can be very painful. Treatment for a torn rotator cuff depends on age, health, how severe the injury is, and how long you’ve had the torn rotator cuff.

Treatment for torn rotator cuff includes:

• Rest
• Heat or cold to the sore area
• Medicines that reduce pain and swelling
• Electrical stimulation of muscles and nerves
• Ultrasound
• Cortisone injection
• Surgery

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease

• Rotator cuff – self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rotator cuff exercises (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rotator cuff problems (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rotator cuff repair (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shoulder arthroscopy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shoulder replacement (Medical Encyclopedia)

A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones at a joint. Falling, twisting, or getting hit can all cause a sprain. Ankle and wrist sprains are common. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and being unable to move your joint. You might feel a pop or tear when the injury happens.

A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Twisting or pulling these tissues can cause a strain. Strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common. Many people get strains playing sports. Symptoms include pain, muscle spasms, swelling, and trouble moving the muscle.

At first, treatment of both sprains and strains usually involves resting the injured area, icing it, wearing a bandage or device that compresses the area, and medicines. Later treatment might include exercise and physical therapy.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Ankle sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Elbow sprain — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Foot sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hamstring strain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hip flexor strain — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Sprains (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Strains (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tendon repair (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Wrist sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)