I’ve heard it called the “Rotary Cup,” the “Rotator Cup”, and one time I even heard it called the “Potato Cup.” It goes by many names. What I am speaking of is actually called the Rotator Cuff. What is it? It is a group of 4 muscles that act together to stabilize your shoulder joint as well as move your arm in various directions. Many of us may have had an injury or know someone who has had an injury to their rotator cuff. It is quite common as our shoulder joints are the most mobile joint in our body, making it prone to injury.
Injury to the rotator cuff can result from a single injury (ex: a fall) or from repetitive movement or overuse (repetitive overhead movements in work or sport). Pain resulting from this is often described as a dull ache in the upper arm itself and is often aggravated by laying on the injured side. Pain is also often aggravated by reaching overhead or behind your back and can become sharp with these movements.
The good news is physical therapy can help these symptoms. With a tailored treatment plan to restore flexibility and muscle strength and improving postural alignment, we can get you “back in the game!”