Ever felt a dull, lingering pain in your shoulder? You could be suffering from a rotator cuff injury. You don’t have to live with the pain. Several treatment methods can relieve your pain and allow you to lead a healthy life. Learn more about rotator cuff injuries in this article.
What is a rotator cuff injury?
A rotator cuff injury occurs when the tendons and muscles holding your shoulder in place become irritated. Rotator cuff injuries are pretty common and are the leading causes of shoulder pain and discomfort. Adults over 40 years are more likely to suffer from rotator cuff injuries.
Rotator cuff injuries include tears, bursitis, or strains. Rotator cuff tears are quite severe and require medical attention. With proper treatment, you can regain the functionality and strength of your shoulder. Regenerative medicine and orthopedics are one of the treatment options you can consider.
Symptoms of rotator cuff injuries
Not sure if you have a rotator cuff injury? Look out for the following symptoms.
Pain that causes discomfort when sleeping
If you experience shoulder pain, especially when you try to sleep on your injured side, you might have a rotator cuff injury. The pain causes discomfort at night and might interfere with sleep quality. Consider seeking medical treatment to improve your health.
Pain when moving your arm
Are you struggling to lift your arm? Rotator cuff injuries can make it difficult and painful to lift your arm. You might notice this pain when performing simple activities like stretching your arm, combing your hair, etc.
Strange cracking sounds when moving your arm
If you notice unusual clicking or popping sounds accompanied by pain when moving your shoulder, you might have a rotator cuff injury. Fortunately, regenerative medicine and orthopedics can address the problem before it escalates.
Arm weakness
Rotator cuff injuries cause arm weakness. You might experience shoulder pain and arm weakness when lifting objects. To avoid aggravating the condition, seek medical services as soon as possible.
Causes
Are you wondering why you have a rotator cuff injury? Well, there are several reasons you might get a rotator cuff injury.
Muscle degeneration
As you age, your muscles and tendons deteriorate due to tissue degeneration. This is why adults above 40 years are more likely to suffer from rotator cuff injuries.
Accidents
Sometimes accidents are inevitable, especially if you are fond of sports or heavy lifting. If you fall on your arm, you might get a rotator cuff injury.
Repetitive movements
Some professions like painting require repetitive arm movements that can lead to rotator cuff injuries. If your work involves repetitive movements, watch out for your shoulders.
Rotator cuff injuries treatment
Treatment of rotator cuff injuries depends on factors, like the type and severity of your injury. Here are some effective treatment methods you can consider.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy is one of the most effective rotator cuff injury treatments to help you regain your health. This treatment involves using your stem cells to treat your injury. The stem cells are taken from your bone marrow and then injected into the affected area to regenerate damaged tissue. Consider consulting a professional healthcare provider in Miami to review your options.
PRP treatment
Another progressive regeneration and orthopedics treatment method is Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Platelets are extracted from your blood and injected into the affected area to speed up the healing process. Don’t just trust any health provider to perform PRP treatment. Instead, consult a reputable and certified healthcare professional in Miami like Regenerative Medicine & Orthopedics. Here is how this reliable team treats rotator cuff injuries and other orthopedic conditions.
Preventing rotator cuff injuries
While you can get treated for rotator cuff injuries, you can always try to avoid the pain and inconvenience caused by these injuries. Below is how you can prevent rotator cuff tears and other injuries.
Avoid repetitive arm movements
Try to avoid tasks that involve numerous overhead arm movements. Such activities include weight lifting, painting, etc. Avoiding these tasks will prevent you from straining your shoulder muscles. This way, your rotator cuff will remain healthy.
Exercise your shoulders
Do you exercise often? If you do, try to incorporate shoulder exercises that strengthen your rotator cuff. If you are not quite fond of exercise, try to at least stretch your shoulders and exercise to keep your rotator cuff in check.
Take a break from strenuous sports
Some sports that involve shoulder rotations can strain your rotator cuff muscles and result in damage. Such sports include football, tennis, baseball, etc. Try to avoid straining your shoulders by taking breaks from sports. For instance, if your shoulders feel strained, you can take a few days off.
Maintain healthy posture
Rotator cuff health begins with great posture. Bad postures can strain your shoulder muscles and lead to rotator cuff injuries. For instance, typing while lifting your arms can strain your rotator cuff muscles. Sleeping on one side can also cause rotator cuff problems. Try to always maintain a great posture to prevent painful rotator cuff injuries.
The bottom line
Rotator cuff injuries are the leading cause of discomfort for people above 40 years. These injuries also result from sports injuries and repetitive arm movements. Some effective treatments for rotator cuff injuries include PRP therapy and stem cell therapy. If you require additional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us today.