It’s an interesting set of words, isn’t it? A rotator cuff sounds more like a car part than a piece of your anatomy but, just like a car part, you need it to function for basic daily tasks like washing your hair and driving your car. If you’ve been feeling niggles in your shoulder that have worsened over time you may be suffering from a rotator cuff tear. Read on to find out more…

When we say a rotator cuff tear, we mean a tear in one of the four tendons that comprise the rotator cuff: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. Niggling shoulder pain might not be the result of an outright tear, but inflammation. Inflammation usually starts in the supraspinatus (usually the first one to tear too) although any of the tendons can be affected getting inflamed in a sort of miserable chain reaction. Over time that wear and tear leads to, well… tears. Moral of the story – pay attention to those niggling pains, adjust your activities and seek the advice of your osteopath sooner rather than later. Once any of the tendons tear, detaching from the humerus (upper arm bone) it’s both painful and debilitating. The tendons of the cuff work together to rotate the shoulder (in and out) stabilise the joint, and lift your arm above your head (so you can reach for those hidden chocolates) so you’re pretty incapacitated if they stop doing their stuff. It’s a common injury, particularly amongst the elderly, those whose work involves lifting their arms above their head for prolonged periods (like painters and carpenters.) Those who love to do pull-ups or lift weights over their heads but jerk through the movement are at risk too.