Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tear
Also called: Torn shoulder tendon
A partial or full-thickness tear of a cuff tendon — from acute trauma at any age or gradual degeneration with years (tears are common and often symptom-free after 60). The decision landscape: acute traumatic tears in younger patients lean surgical early; degenerative tears usually start with rehab, which succeeds for most.
Common signs
- Shoulder pain with overhead use and at night
- Weakness lifting or rotating the arm — sometimes profound in large tears
- Difficulty reaching behind the back
- A traumatic story (fall, yank) or a slow burn over months
Seek help now if
- Sudden major weakness after trauma — timely surgical evaluation matters for repairability
- Inability to lift the arm at all (pseudo-paralysis)
- Hot joint with fever
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Prompt exam distinguishing weakness from pain-inhibition; strength testing maps which tendon and how much
- Traumatic full-thickness tears in active patients: early imaging and surgical consult — delay can cost repair options
- Degenerative tears: begin a structured rehab program; most respond well over 12 weeks
If it's become chronic
- Rehab centers on the remaining cuff, deltoid, and scapular system compensating brilliantly when trained
- Monitor: increasing weakness or failed quality rehab reopens the surgical conversation
- Post-repair patients follow a phase-locked protocol for months — the rehab is half the surgery
Natural healing options we use
- Progressive strengthening program adapted to the tear
- Manual therapy and cervicothoracic chiropractic care
- Attended e-stim for recruitment; PEMF
- Protein, collagen, omega-3, vitamin D for tendon health
About imaging
MRI (or ultrasound) sizes and locates the tear when the result would change the plan.
Daily self-care
- Consistent daily program — compensation is trained, not wished for
- Modify provocative overhead tasks during rebuild
- Sleep support: pillow under the arm
More in Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy & ImpingementFrozen ShoulderAC Joint SprainShoulder Instability & DislocationShoulder Labral TearBiceps TendinopathyShoulder OsteoarthritisScapular Dyskinesis
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.