Rotator cuff syndrome is the injury of the rotator cuff in the shoulders mostly caused by degeneration over time. Its incidence rises with age, mostly affecting people aged 65 or above. People engaging in repetitive work, smokers, diabetes patients, and people with muscular atrophy or obesity also have a higher risk for this disease. During a diagnosis, the doctor will assess the health condition and medical history of the patient by gathering information on the patient’s previous activities and acute or chronic symptoms. The doctor will then examine the patient’s shoulders by palpation, range of motion test, pain provocation test, tests for the nervous system and strength test to identify potential pain and deformity. Since the pain caused by neck conditions often extends to the shoulders, the examination will also cover the neck area to discover signs of nerve compression, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis of rotator cuff syndrome 

Rotator cuff syndrome is often compared with frozen shoulder in clinical diagnosis. Patients with frozen shoulders cannot raise their arms themselves or even with others’ help, while patients with rotator cuff syndrome can raise their arms with the support of others. Since many factors can contribute to shoulder pain, imaging tests are often used to facilitate diagnosis. Common tests used in clinical diagnosis are X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), musculoskeletal ultrasound, etc.

Prevention for rotator cuff syndrome

If symptoms develop, you should avoid lifting objects over your head (e.g., hanging clothes above your head) or suddenly flexing or extending your arms (e.g., reaching for objects in the backseat with your seatbelt fastened). Yet, you should not completely stop exercising your shoulders since this may trigger joint restrictions. It is safe to move your shoulders at a moderate speed within a range that will not cause you pain.

Chiropractic treatments are effective in treating rotator cuff syndrome. After the treatment, most patients can gradually recover in three to six months. If you suspect you have rotator cuff syndrome, you should receive examinations for diagnosis immediately to cure shoulder pain.