Symptoms

A healthy rotator cuff provides you with a strong, stable and flexible shoulder while injury can result in pain, weakness and loss of mobility.

You may find activities such as combing your hair, reaching behind your back or lying on the affected shoulder painful or even impossible to perform.

Cause

Among younger patients the tear is most likely to have been induced by a traumatic injury, such as falling on an outstretched arm, or by unusual use of the shoulder, as seen in professional athletes.

In the case of patients who have passed their forties, rotator cuff tear may be the result of years of wear and tear. Since muscles and tendons lose some of their elasticity as we age, simply performing everyday activities can cause the rotator cuff to tear.