Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsRisk FactorsRehabilitationPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Associated Conditions
Risk Factors
Rehabilitation
Prevention
Your rotator cuff is made up of four muscles: thesupraspinatus,infraspinatus, teres minor, andsubscapularis. The muscles start on the shoulder blade (scapula) and join as tendons to form a thick covering at the top of the humerus (the bone in the upper arm).
The rotator cuff has several important jobs, including stabilizing the shoulder, elevating and rotating the arm, and ensuring the head of the humerus stays securely placed in the shoulder socket.
This article will go over the anatomy and function of the rotator cuff muscles, how they get injured, and what to do if you hurt your rotator cuff.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
The acronym SITS is often used as the name for the collection of muscles that make up the rotator cuff: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
The four muscles of the rotator cuff are:
Humerus Bone Anatomy
Each rotator cuff muscle performs a specific, important job that helps your shoulder joint work.
Your rotator cuff:
All four rotator cuff muscles work together to centralize your humerus bone in the shoulder joint. When you lift your arm, your rotator cuff muscles pull the joint together to stabilize your shoulder.
Since these muscles are so involved in the movement and stabilization of the shoulder, they can get worn out and even tear if the arm is used a lot or if it is injured in some way.
Sometimes, shoulder pain can come on for no apparent reason.
Wear and tear of the rotator cuff and shoulder joint can happen with repetitive stress and postural neglect. When this happens, different structures around the rotator cuff are affected.
If you have injured your rotator cuff, you may have pain or weakness when lifting your arm. A rotator cuff injury can also cause difficulty with basic functional activities like lifting, reaching, or sleeping.
Common injuries to the four rotator cuff muscles are:
Any problems around your shoulder can cause limited motion and function.
However, some people have rotator cuff tears that show up onmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but they have no pain, loss of strength, or limited function. Thus, the presence of a rotator cuff tear does not necessarily mean that you will experience problems with your shoulder.
Risk Factors for Rotator Cuff Injuries
There are certain motions and activities that increase your chances of getting a rotator cuff injury, including
Lifting heavy objects or moving your shoulder the wrong way can cause a rotator cuff tear. However, most rotator cuff tears are from the tendons wearing down with age.
Repeatedly using the muscle for the same motion can make this type of tear more common.
A car accident, fall, or another sudden trauma to the shoulder can also cause a rotator cuff injury.
Working on keeping your joints healthy, avoiding overhead and repetitive strain on your shoulders, and maintaining proper posture can help you avoid painful shoulder injuries.
Depending on the severity of a rotator cuff injury, the treatment can range from simple rest and immobilization to surgery.
At home, resting your shoulder and doing heat therapy can help manage your symptoms. Even something as simple as taking a hot shower may help with the pain because it relaxes the shoulder and back muscles.
You can also use an ice pack for 20 minutes a few times a day to help with swelling, just make sure you wrap ice in a towel so it is not directly on your skin.
Without surgery, it can take about a year for a torn rotator cuff to heal. About 20% of people who do not have surgery have ongoing pain or shoulder problems. If your rotator is surgically repaired, recovery can take 12 to 18 months.
Recovery from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff can be slow, so orthopedic surgeons tend to shy away from doing these procedures. They may recommend them for younger patients, major tears, or older patients who have jobs that depend heavily on shoulder function.
When rotator cuff problems cause shoulder pain, you may benefit from working with aphysical therapist(PT). Not only can they help figure out the cause of your shoulder pain, but they can also work with you on restoring normal shoulderrange of motion(ROM) and strength.
Your PT will ask you questions about your shoulder pain and may do special tests on your shoulder to determine what structures are causing your symptoms.
Special Diagnostic Tests for Shoulder Pain
Treatment for a rotator cuff injury can involve different therapies to control pain. Shoulder exercises will likely be prescribed to help you restore normal mobility of the joint.
Exercises that can help you heal from a rotator cuff injury include:
Your PT can teach you what to do now to treat your rotator cuff problem, as well as show you how to prevent future problems with your rotator cuff muscles.
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any rotator cuff exercise program. Stop any exercise that causes acute pain or discomfort in your shoulder.
You should talk to a healthcare provider before starting any rotator cuff exercise program. Stop any exercise that causes acute pain or discomfort in your shoulder.
How Can I Prevent Rotator Cuff Injuries?
You can’t always avoid a rotator cuff injury, but there are some steps you can take to take care of your rotator cuff and make problems less likely to happen.
Summary
The four muscles that make up the rotator cuff are often referred to as SITS which stands for supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. These muscles play important roles in the health and function of your shoulder. If one or more is injured, it can cause pain and trouble using your shoulder.
If you hurt your rotator cuff, you may needshoulder rehabto heal from a rotator cuff injury and prevent future problems. There are also ways you can protect your shoulder muscles and keep them healthy to reduce your chances of hurting them.
Complete Anatomy of the Shoulder Joint
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears.
Physiopedia.Rotator cuff.
Harvard Health Publishing.What to do about rotator cuff tendinitis.
Cleveland Clinic.Rotator cuff tear.
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