Pitchers have a tendency to suffer rotator cuff injuries
The rotator cuff is a series of four small muscles that support the shoulder and allow it to complete its various and complicated movements. These muscles are vulnerable to injuries--such as a tear--through overuse or a fall. A torn rotator cuff will result in anything from slight discomfort to significant pain throughout the shoulder.
Primary Pain
The first sign of a torn rotator cuff when an individual has not suffered a major fall or there doesn't appear to be a single incident that has caused the problem is pain when raising or lowering the shoulder. That pain is most often at the top of the shoulder. When the individual reaches forward, the movement is limited and it can be accompanied by pain in the rear of the shoulder.
Symptoms
There are additional symptoms besides pain with a torn rotator cuff. In the beginning, the pain may not be very significant and that may provide a false sense of security that the shoulder is not severely injured. Other symptoms to look out for include atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder, weakness when lifting or rotating the arm and a cracking noise when lifting the shoulder to various positions.
Causes
Many rotator cuff injuries are caused by overuse. Since the four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor) in the rotator cuff are small, they can be damaged rather easily. Most injuries occur from repetitive overhead motions such as pitching or throwing in baseball, tennis, weight lifting and volleyball. People over the age of 40 are also vulnerable to rotator cuff injuries because the muscles lose much of their elasticity as the years go by.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a physical examination to determine if a patient has a rotator cuff tear. He will take a history of how the shoulder was injured and then check for tenderness. He will also try to determine if there is instability in the area by asking the patient to perform certain tasks. However, the main determination comes from an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) which will point out the specific area and which muscle is torn.
Treatment
In many cases, your doctor will prescribe non-surgical options like rest, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injection and light exercises to help the shoulder improve. If the condition worsens, surgery may be indicated. Surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis with an arthroscope in many cases. Full recovery can take six months or longer for an active athlete.
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