What is Rotator Cuff Strain or Tendinopathy?
The shoulder joint, or glenohumeral joint (GH), is a ball-and-socket joint formed between the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa of the scapula. While this structure allows for an impressive range of motion, it’s inherently unstable and heavily relies on surrounding soft tissue structures for support—including the rotator cuff, glenoid labrum, joint capsule, and capsular ligaments.
Rotator cuff injuries account for over 4.5 million doctor visits each year. Common symptoms include shoulder pain (especially during overhead movements or at night), weakness, reduced range of motion, tenderness near the shoulder, and referred pain down the arm.
Anatomy of the Shoulder Joint
The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles that stabilize the shoulder both at rest and during movement:
- Supraspinatus: Lifts the arm to the side; the most commonly injured rotator cuff muscle.
- Infraspinatus: Rotates the arm outward.
- Teres Minor: Assists in outward rotation of the arm.
- Subscapularis: Rotates the arm inward.
All of these muscles play a role in stabilizing the shoulder joint while at rest or throughout activity by exerting a downward and inward force helping to compress the shoulder joint. If any of these muscles are injured it can create dysfunction in the shoulder or lead to pain.
We offer a variety of therapies and modalities to treat rotator cuff conditions
Our approach to treating rotator cuff injuries will often depend on severity. For minor muscle strains we utilize a range of soft tissue modalities ranging from dry needling, cupping, myofascial release techniques, and at home corrective exercises. View our services.
For more severe cases or rotator cuff injuries to the tendons we utilize shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy is a tissue regenerative therapy designed to target damaged tissue and heal areas that otherwise would be challenging with more conservative modalities. Learn more about shockwave therapy.
When applicable, Cold laser therapy can be combined with other conservative treatments and quickly impact inflammation, help stimulate blood flow, and increase energy production of cells and tissues. Explore laser therapy.
Outcomes depend on severity of injury, timely diagnosis, treatment, and adherence to at home corrective exercises. Our staff at MVMT Chiropractic are highly trained in applying treatment guidelines and therapies for shoulder injuries. Schedule a consultation below!