5 Signs Your Shoulder Pain Could Be a Rotator Cuff Injury

Wondering if the shoulder pain you’ve been dealing with is due to a rotator cuff injury? Here are a few signs that could be pointing in that direction.

As many as two-thirds of people experience some type of shoulder pain during their lives.

Our shoulders are complex joints, allowing the largest range of motion of any joint in the body due to the ball-and-socket configuration, with stability of the joint provided by a group of four muscles and their associated tendons: the rotator cuff.

Damage to your rotator cuff can occur as an acute injury or over time as a result of repetitive motion. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, you want to know what’s causing it.

Adam Redlich, MD, and Christina Lusk-Cáceres, DO, lead our expert team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine in Robbinsville and Neptune, New Jersey. Based on our experience with patients, here are five signs your shoulder pain could be a rotator cuff injury.

1. Pain and stiffness when raising your arm

The first sign you could have a rotator cuff injury is simply pain. Rotator cuff pain often presents as a constant, dull, throbbing ache, but it could also be sharp. You may especially notice this when you move your arm, and you may experience stiffness along with the pain.

2. Loss of range of motion

Another common sign is losing the ability to move your shoulder the same way you did before the injury. Usually, the more severe the problem is, the more your movement will be restricted. You may not be able to raise your arm fully or reach across your body.

3. Aching and pain at night

You may also experience aching and pain that wakes you up at night, especially if you’re lying on the affected shoulder. Even lying on your back can place extra strain on the tendons and muscles, causing them to ache and keeping you awake.

4. Popping or crackling noises when you move your shoulder

When there’s excess friction inside a joint, a phenomenon called crepitus often occurs. This happens when inflamed or swollen tendons rub against parts of the joint, causing a crackling, popping, grating, or clicking sound.

5. Shoulder or arm weakness and fatigue

A rotator cuff injury can cause fatigue and weakness even after simple tasks such as taking a drink that require you to lift your arm. This can happen if your tendons are torn and your muscles have to handle an additional load to compensate.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it might be time to get checked out by our team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine. To schedule an appointment, call our nearest office or use our online scheduling tool to book your own time.