Rotator Cuff Injuries
What is the Rotator Cuff?
The Rotator Cuff is effectively a group of four muscles originating from the scapula (shoulder blade) and inserting on the most proximal aspects of the humerus (upper arm bone). These four muscles are the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis. Together the muscles of the Rotator Cuff function as active stabilizers of the shoulder joint in addition to maintaining congruency and normal joint positioning.
What causes Rotator Cuff Injury?
Injury is possible to any component of the Rotator Cuff, or a combination of tissues can be damaged. However, the most common muscle of the Rotator Cuff to be injured is the supraspinatus. In fact, the term “rotator cuff tear” is often used synonymously with a tear of the supraspinatus muscle or its corresponding tendon. Rotator Cuff injuries can occur due to trauma, but they are more frequently associated with repetitive stress and changes with age.
What are the different types of Rotator Cuff Injury?
As mentioned previously, several types of Rotator Cuff injury exist. However, the most prevalent type, an injury to the supraspinatus muscle or tendon is what we will focus on. Injuries to this muscle or tendon exist on a continuum of minor damage to a complete tear. The chiropractors at Carolina Active Health Chiropractic in Greenville, SC are trained to properly evaluate and diagnose Rotator Cuff Injuries appropriately. This is represented in the descending list below.
Supraspinatus/Rotator Cuff Strain – Isolated injury to the supraspinatus muscle usually due to minor trauma
Supraspinatus Tendinopathy – Microtrauma associated injury to the tendinous portion of the supraspinatus; can begin with inflammation and progress to degenerative change
Partial thickness Supraspinatus Tendon Tear – Probable progression from tendinopathy due to repetitive trauma and inadequate healing over time
Full thickness Supraspinatus Tendon Tear – Can be caused by major trauma in younger individuals or long-standing tendon issues and age
How are Rotator Cuff injuries diagnosed?
Rotator Cuff injuries are diagnosed through several methods. A detailed medical history, range of motion testing, and orthopedic exams are often enough to raise suspicion of a possible strain, tendinopathy, or tear. Advanced imaging, such as an MRI is often required to fully discern the extent of a supraspinatus tear.
How are Rotator Cuff injuries treated?
Research has shown that partial tears of the supraspinatus respond well to conservative care. Conservative management for Rotator Cuff injury includes progressive strengthening for the cuff musculature and surrounding tissue, scapulothoracic (midback and shoulder blade) mobility training, and postural education during activities of daily living. Complete Rotator Cuff tears often require surgical intervention if symptoms are present. After a surgical procedure is performed, a similar rehabilitative process is needed to restore function to the injured shoulder.
Some of our treatment plans may include the following:
Active Release Technique (ART)
This technique uses applied active pressure to the back, targeting the back as a whole rather than each isolated joint separately, the motion removes the adhesions found in the back that are causing the patient’s pain.
Motion Palpation Technique
While the patient is moving their affected joints, we will apply subtle pressure to each joint using our fingers and hands in order to feel how they are functioning.
Functional Rehabilitation
Combining treatments with rehabilitation is a big win for our patients. We focus on corrective exercises that teach the body to work as it’s meant to.
Class IV Laser Therapy
Laser therapy allows deep tissue penetration that alleviates pain and inflammation. This treatment is entirely safe and effective, lasting from a few to 10 minutes.
Movement Screen / Biomechanical Analysis
Movement screening allows us to view how the body is moving and how motion is affecting the patient’s movement. This can explain why some injuries occur, helping us fix the cause instead of only focusing on the symptoms of an injury.
Exercise Recovery
Our Greenville team offers exercise recovery tools that speed up recovery time between workouts, improve performance, and contribute to pain reduction. Dr. Nelson uses a Marc Pro device which provides muscle stimulation, and in turn enhancing active recovery. Additionally, we offer Normatec recovery boots which passively flush out waste and soreness.
Take-Home Rehabilitation
We want our patients to head home fully armed to take a healthy and proactive approach in their recovery. Offering education on how to properly exercise and stretch gives the patient a core element of their health plan and helps them achieve overall balance, strength, and wellness.
Our staff will ensure that each patient feels safe, secure, and comfortable with their wellness treatment plan and goals.
Whether your plan implements stretching, therapy, laser treatments, or adjusting, chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to quickly find what’s causing your pain and remedy it through natural means. Having a well-balanced body doesn’t need to require surgery, seeing Dr. Nelson or Dr. Yates is a smart, noninvasive, risk-free way to gain and maintain a healthy body, mind, and soul.
“The medical care from this provider is exemplary. Their lead physicians, physical therapists, and assistants have outstanding professional knowledge. Each of them have excellent personal skills and employ them hearing the patient well and making diagnoses. They take time and care about their patients. Their action plans are effective, achievable, and they monitor to be sure that patients have the level of support they need. This is a practice that provides not adequate or good care. This is a practice that is generous. While they are excellent as a practice in their own right, they work well in conjunction with other medical providers. For chiropractic and musculoskeletal care, I enthusiastically recommend Carolina Active Health without reservation.”
“My shoulder pain was 90% gone after the first visit! Dr. Yates’ approach was diagnostic and thorough to determine the issue causing my shoulder and neck pain. He developed a plan based on goals to not only relieve my pain but to enhance my overall quality of life. By visit three my shoulder pain was gone.
Additionally, since recently moving to Greenville, I’m super thankful for Amy at the front desk. The time she took on my first call listening to my chiropractic history ensuring I felt confident on my first visit after having used the same chiropractor for 15 years was much appreciated.
The professionalism of Carolina Active Health Chiropractic overall provides a confidence that’s definitely a five star rating!”
“By far the best chiropractic experience I’ve ever had. Dr. Nelson takes the time to truly examine and understand your body and movements before assigning treatments. My sore lower back was healed almost instantly after visiting and doing the stretches/exercises assigned to me. After the pain was gone, the staff worked with me to improve my overall body movement and flexibility to prevent future problems. I highly reccomend Carolina Active Health .”