The four rotator cuff muscles are the Subscapularis, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus and Teres Minor. They with their tendons connect the upper arm bone with the shoulder blade.
A rotator cuff injury involves many types of irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons.
Tendons in the rotator cuff can become inflamed due to overuse or overload, especially if one performs a lot of overhead activities this is called tendonitis.
If untreated, tendinitis can weaken a tendon and lead to chronic tendon degeneration or to a tendon tear.
There are many common activities that can cause rotator cuff injuries.
After the age of 40yrs, normal wear and tear on the rotator cuff muscles and tendons can breakdown the of fibrous protein in the tendons and muscles making them prone to degeneration and injury. With age calcium deposits can occur in the rotator cuff tendons or arthritic bone spurs can occur that pinch the rotator cuff.
Poor posture like slouching the shoulders forward makes the space in which the rotator cuff muscles move gets smaller, pinching the tendons, especially during overhead activities.
Putting the arm out to break a fall or even falling onto the arm can bruise or tear a rotator cuff tendon.
If one lifts an object that's too heavy or by lifting overhead improperly can strain or tear the tendons or muscles. Even pulling something heavy may cause an injury.
Repetitive overhead movement of the arms can stress the rotator cuff muscles and tendons, leading to inflammation and on to rotator cuff tears.
