By: Eric Reinhold, MPT, ATC

How many of you know people who have hurt their rotator cup…I mean rotor cuff…er, Rotary Club? Besides being one of the most mispronounced anatomical terms in the body, a dysfunction of the rotator cuff can lead to one of the most misunderstood pains in the body.

A 20-year-old pitcher can lose the pop on a fastball for no apparent reason. A retired teacher may develop a pain in the shoulder that feels like a toothache every time he or she reaches into an overhead cabinet. A fisherman may not be able to cast his or her line quite as far anymore. As different as these scenarios sound, they may all be related to a problem with the rotator cuff.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles in the shoulder that help to elevate the arm for overhead activities. The shoulder is considered a ball-and-socket joint, allowing an extraordinary amount of motion but predisposing you to injury due to a lack of stability. The rotator cuff muscles rotate the ball of your upper arm in the shoulder socket. Without proper rotation in the joint, the bones in the shoulder could rub against the rotator cuff, causing painful inflammation of the tendons. This is commonly known as rotator cuff tendonitis.

Rotator cuff tendonitis presents itself differently in all people. For some, it hurts to pick up a gallon of milk. Others complain of pain reaching behind their back to tuck in their shirts. Athletes describe an aching pain with throwing or overhead activities. Most people generally report discomfort when raising their arms above shoulder level.

Some jobs or activities can predispose you to developing this condition. Repetitive overhead activities may inflame the rotator cuff tendons, causing improper rotation of the joint. This progressive wearing of the tendons can actually lead to an abnormal bone formation in the shoulder, called a spur. In worst case scenarios, a tear may even develop in the rotator cuff.

The first step to decreasing your pain and regaining function of your shoulder is to see your physician. Generally, rotator cuff tendonitis will not go away without some sort of treatment.

There are many conservative options to treat rotator cuff tendonitis. Some of these include oral medications, anti-inflammatory injections, and/or physical therapy. In more severe cases, surgery may need to be performed. The surgeon may have to remove bone spurs or even repair the muscle if a tear has been found in the rotator cuff.

Physical therapy may be part of the conservative approach to treatment or may be prescribed after shoulder surgery. In therapy, you may receive various pain relieving modalities, such as ultrasound. Once the pain has begun to subside, a gentle stretching and strengthening program may be designed for you. Strengthening the rotator cuff muscles with pain free exercises may be the key to rehabilitation. This should allow the ball to spin freely in the shoulder socket without causing you pain.

So the next time you are at a Rotary Club meeting and someone complains about a pain in their rotor cup, tell them about the rotator cuff. And, whether it be from throwing a fastball or reaching overhead into a cabinet, let them know that it may not be a pain they have to live with.

Pike Creek Physical Therapy at Lantana Square is one of Southern Delaware Physical Therapy’s six locations. If you would like to schedule an appointment at any of their locations, please call: Pike Creek at 239-2800; Lewes at 644-2530; Long Neck at 947-4460; Milford at 424-1810; Rehoboth at 227-2008; or Smyrna at 659-0173. Their professional and caring staff would be delighted to accommodate you. You may also visit them at their website, www.southerndelawarept.com.

Eric Reinhold is a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer with 9 years of experience. He graduated from Marietta College in Ohio in 1996 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Sports Medicine. He went on to pursue his Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, graduating in 1998. Eric’s athletic training internship landed him with the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been the Rehab Director for Southern Delaware Physical Therapy, the parent company to Pike Creek Physical Therapy, since 2002.

TESTIMONIALS for PIKE CREEK PHYSICAL THERAPY at LANTANA SQUARE:

“I came in on crutches and a ‘boot’. I was unable to walk without them. After the first week (3 visits & home exercises), I was no longer using the crutches or the boot. I was encouraged to try new exercises and given advice on what shoes to wear, etc. Each week I could see real improvement. My first goal was to be able to walk down stairs normally. I couldn’t raise my left heel. With the exercises and encouragement of the staff, I am now able to walk down a flight of steps! It has been a very good experience and I am thankful for their caring and skill.” ~ R. LUCAS

“In the beginning, I was not able to perform regular household chores, a lot of which require bending. Now my abilities are unlimited throughout my day after only 4 weeks of therapy.” ~ N. MOYER

“I feel almost 100% better after therapy. Received excellent instructions re-garding exercises to do at home.” ~ E. BRENNAN