The Dreaded Torn Rotator Cuff

It is the one thing that all athletes fear the most because it has the potential to end their career: a torn rotator cuff. We hear about it all of the time, but how many of us really know what a torn rotator cuff is?

The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and help to hold your arm in place, while still allowing it to rotate freely. The shoulder is one of the most flexible joints in that it allows us to move our arm in directions that most of our other joints do not allow…

However, the shoulder joint is not very strong and putting too much strain on it can cause the tendons to tear or become enflamed. A really rough strain might even cause a complete disconnection of the tendon from the bone.

A torn rotator cuff can be something that you notice gradually. This is because the tear may start out small and be just a pinch in your shoulder. If it is not attended to correctly at this stage, the tear will continue to progress and get worse until the athlete is forced to have it repaired, most often surgically. Torn rotator cuffs can also happen very suddenly, most often because of a fall or heavy lifting. If this is the case, the athlete will feel a pop or a sudden burst of pain.

The key to an athlete continuing their career will most often depend on them seeking immediate medical attention at the slightest hint of pain in the shoulder area. It will also depend on the athlete taking the proper amount of time to rehabilitate the shoulder before beginning to participate in sports again. Once they do make the decision to start playing again, the transition should be very slow to avoid reinjuring the shoulder.

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