Region: Shoulder
A strain or tear in the rotator cuff muscles/tendons that help stabilize and move the shoulder.
What is a Rotator Cuff Tear / Strain?
A strain or tear in the rotator cuff muscles/tendons that help stabilize and move the shoulder.
Symptoms
- Shoulder pain
- Pain with lifting the arm
- Pain with overhead activity
- Pain when sleeping on that side
- Weakness lifting or rotating the arm
What does a Rotator Cuff Tear / Strain feel like?
- A dull ache or sharp pain
- Worse during overhead movement
- Arm may feel weak or tired quickly
What are common causes of a Rotator Cuff Tear / Strain?
- Overhead sports (throwing, tennis)
- Weightlifting / repetitive overhead work
- Fall onto an outstretched arm
- Wear-and-tear over time
Self check
- Does overhead reaching make it worse?
- Does it hurt to lift the arm out to the side?
- Does the shoulder feel weaker than usual?
Educational only — not a medical diagnosis.
What to do now
- Rest from painful overhead activity
- Ice 10–15 minutes
- Gentle range-of-motion if tolerated
- Avoid pushing through sharp pain
Red flags
- Cannot lift the arm at all
- Visible deformity
- New numbness/weakness in hand
- Severe pain after trauma
Recovery tips
- Rebuild scapular + rotator cuff strength gradually
- Return to overhead activity in phases
- Warm up and progress volume slowly
Educational only. Not a medical diagnosis.