Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common reasons for shoulder pain, and they can range from an irritated tendon after a big week of training to a tear after a fall or heavy lift. If lifting your arm hurts, you’ve lost strength overhead or lying on your shoulder keeps you awake.
Rotator cuff tears are common and don’t always cause pain. In one imaging study of people with no shoulder symptoms, tears were found in about 1 in 5 people in their 60s and around 4 in 10 of those aged 70 and over.
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that wrap around the top of your arm bone and keep it centred in the shoulder socket as you move. An injury can mean an irritated or overloaded tendon (tendinopathy), a strain, or a partial or full tear. Some come on suddenly, such as a fall or heavy lift, while many build gradually from repeated overhead use or age-related wear.
Our approach at Bend + Mend
A torn tendon doesn’t always heal on its own, but many people, particularly with partial tears or gradual-onset tears, recover good strength and have less pain through a structured strengthening programme. Surgery is more commonly considered after a sudden traumatic tear with marked weakness.
Usually yes, with modification. Complete rest tends to weaken the shoulder further, while pushing through sharp pain can aggravate it. We’ll show you what to keep doing, adjust or temporarily avoid.
It varies with the type and size of the injury. An irritated tendon often improves over several weeks, while meaningful strength gains from rehab usually take around 3 to 6 months of consistent work, and longer for larger tears.
No. A physio assessment is usually enough to start treatment. We’ll recommend imaging if you’ve had a significant injury, have marked weakness, or aren’t improving as expected.
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