The most common complaint is a painful first step when you stand up to walk especially in the morning and being unable to walk for long distances. When you palpate the tender area you may feel a tender bony lump. Many people especially athletes describe the heel spur like a pin sticking in the bottom of the foot when walking and experience tension in their calf.
Sudden shoulder pain, sometimes accompanied by a tear.
Inability to sleep on the injured shoulder
Shoulder clicking particularly when the tendons pinch between the socket and ball of the shoulder joint when moving your arm overhead
Shoulder weakness
You cannot lift your arm above your shoulder due to pain
Inability to move your elbow away from your body
If you are able to lift your arm with minimal pain, this indicates the severity of the tear is less and it may only be a strain of the rotator cuff muscles or inflammation of the bursa.
It is always important to reduce the pain and the inflammation, which then allows the tissues to fully heal before having a full rehabilitation program that suits the injury you sustained.
A small and/or medium sized cuff tear can heal properly with appropriate management and physiotherapy.
Corticosteroid injections are often administered in stubborn cases to relieve pain and promote tendon healing.
Large partial or full rotator cuff tears require surgery if physiotherapy does not work.
Immediately after the injury is sustained, application of the RICE principles of rest, ice, compression and elevation needs to be done.
Rest your arm by using a sling, to reduce motion of the injured arm.
If necessary, take pain and anti-inflammatory medications recommended to you by your doctor.
Complete your rotator cuff rehabilitation exercises, as per your physiotherapist’s instructions.
Be mindful of how you perform your daily activities and don’t ignore your shoulder pain if it lasts for more than a week. You should see your doctor or book in to get it assessed and treated by your Physiotherapist.
Perform rotator cuff strengthening exercises to maintain a healthy shoulder. If you have no current shoulder injury feel free to complete this workout in the video below.
Other exercises that you can do can be found in the link below