The rotator cuff syndrome, also known as shoulder impact syndrome, occurs when there is a lesion in the structures that help stabilize this region, causing symptoms such as shoulder pain, in addition to difficulty or weakness to lift the arm, and can be caused either by tendonitis or by partial or total rupture of the tendons of the region.
The rotator cuff is formed by a set of four muscles responsible for moving and giving stability to the shoulder, which are the infraspinatus, the supraspinatus, the minor round and the subscapular, along with its tendons and ligaments. Injuries in this region usually occur due to an inflammation caused by wear, irritation or an impact due to excessive use of the joint, which is more common in athletes or people who work carrying weight with their arms.
To treat this syndrome, rest, ice and physiotherapy are indicated, and the orthopaedist may also indicate the use of anti-inflammatories, such as ketoprofen, to relieve pain or, in cases where there is no improvement, surgical treatment is necessary.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of rotator cuff syndrome include:
- Shoulder pain, which may be sudden when lifting the arm or being persistent even at rest, usually in the front or side of the shoulder;
- Decreased strength in the affected shoulder;
- Difficulty putting the arm behind the body, to dress or to comb the hair, for example.
- There may be swelling in the affected shoulder.
Symptoms may worsen at night or whenever efforts are made and, in addition, in the most severe and untreated cases, it is possible to occur until the inability to move the shoulder.
How to confirm
To diagnose rotator cuff syndrome, the orthopedist or physiotherapist evaluates the symptoms and performs the physical examination of the shoulder to detect the changes.
The doctor may also request additional tests such as radiography, ultrasound, or MRI of the shoulder, both to help confirm the diagnosis and to observe the degree of the lesion or if there are other types of lesions associated with the shoulder, scapula or arm, which may cause or intensify the symptoms. Learn to differentiate what are the main causes of shoulder pain and what to do in each case.
What are the causes
An injury to the rotator cuff can have a variety of causes, ranging from progressive joint wear and tear, shoulder irritation from the appearance of bone spikes, or from tendon damage during repetitive activities or weight lifting for an extended period of time. The people most at risk for this syndrome are:
- Practitioners of physical activities, especially those who often make repetitive movements in the arm, such as tennis players, goalkeepers, swimmers and basketball players;
- Workers who perform repetitive arm movements, such as those working in the field of construction, carpentry or painting, for example;
- People over the age of 40, as aging increases the risk of wear and tear and degenerative lesions.
In addition, it is believed that there may be a genetic component involved in this syndrome, since it is more common among members of the same family.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment of rotator cuff syndrome is indicated to reduce inflammation of the joint and aid in its regeneration, with resting of the shoulder, application of ice and physical therapy, which is very important to help regain stability and strength in the affected shoulder . Check out physical therapy exercises to do at home that help in shoulder recovery.
The orthopedist may also indicate the use of analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Dipirone, Diclofenac or Ketoprofen, for example, to relieve pain and facilitate recovery. In some cases of persistent pain, corticosteroid injections may be necessary within the joint.
Treatment may last from 2 weeks to several months, however, in cases where the pain can not be relieved, the orthopedist may indicate that a surgery is performed in which the doctor will identify and repair the injury. The surgery can be through the opening of the skin or with the use of a micro camera and special instruments, technique called arthroscopy. Learn how it is done and how the shoulder arthroscopy recovers.
