The rotator cuff is made up of a series of tendons and 4 muscles that originate in the shoulder blade area and continue on as a group to form a cuff over the shoulder area. This is a common problem area for many people, especially as the reach middle age or older. It is not uncommon for a rotator cuff tear to occur, either through repetitive stress, such as listing things over the head over and over at work for many years or through injury such as in a fall. When the rotator cuff problems are due to repetitive stress the symptoms seem to develop over time, causing pain that is at first easily controlled through drug store pain medications but over time requires stronger pain pills and at times therapy or even surgery. Rotator cuff injuries caused by injury are usually felt suddenly as pain and a weakness in the arm, however it is not always a rotator cuff tear as it happens sometimes the area is just bruised.

When a person has a rotator cuff problem they should seek the advice of a medical professional to see what the problem really is and what the underlying causes are, whether they are from a tear or from bruising. They will be able to make the determination of what kind of rotator cuff treatment is necessary, either therapy or surgery, or perhaps a combination of both. At times they may treat the rotator cuff by immobilizing it and allowing it to heal, and at other times they may treat it with therapy, mimicking the movements of the rotator cuff with progressive resistance to build strength.