A sudden sharp pain when reaching for something on a high shelf, a persistent dull ache deep within your shoulder, or weakness when trying to lift your arm— these are all classic signs of a rotator cuff injury. It’s one of the most common shoulder complaints, affecting everyone from elite athletes and tradespeople to office workers.

The shoulder is the body’s most mobile joint, but this huge range of motion comes at the cost of stability. A rotator cuff injury can compromise this delicate balance, causing significant pain and frustration. At Elite Myotherapy, we know that effective treatment requires looking beyond just the site of pain to understand why the injury occurred in the first place.

What is the Rotator Cuff?

Many people are surprised to learn that the rotator cuff isn’t a single entity. It is a crucial group of four muscles and their connecting tendons that wrap around the shoulder joint. These are the Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis (often called the SITS muscles).

Their job is twofold:

  • To stabilise: They act like a dynamic cuff to keep the head of your upper arm bone (humerus) centred within the shallow shoulder socket.
  • To move: They control the lifting and rotation of your arm.

An injury occurs when one or more of these tendons becomes irritated, pinched (impinged), or torn.

How Do Rotator Cuff Injuries Happen and Who is Affected?

Rotator cuff injuries can be traced back to two primary causes:

Acute Injury

This happens from a single event, like falling on an outstretched arm, lifting something too heavy with a jerking motion, or a sudden, traumatic shoulder dislocation.

Degenerative Overuse (More Common)

This is the result of repetitive stress and micro-trauma over time. The tendons gradually wear down, making them susceptible to injury.

Those most commonly affected include:

Athletes

Especially those in sports with repetitive overhead movements like tennis, swimming, cricket, and weightlifting.

Tradespeople

Painters, carpenters, and electricians who frequently work with their arms overhead.

Office Workers

Poor posture, such as slouching with rounded shoulders, can decrease the space within the shoulder joint. This can lead to the tendons being repeatedly pinched, a condition known as impingement.

Older Adults

As we age, blood supply to the tendons can decrease, and general wear and tear can lead to degeneration and tearing.

How Myotherapy Can Help Your Rotator Cuff Recovery

A Myotherapist provides a comprehensive, hands-on approach to treating rotator cuff injuries that focuses on pain relief, restoring function, and preventing re-injury. We don’t just treat the symptom; we investigate and address the underlying cause.

A Thorough Assessment

Your recovery starts with a detailed assessment. We look at your posture, your shoulder’s range of motion, and how your shoulder blade (scapula) moves. Poor scapular control is a massive contributor to rotator cuff problems. We identify which muscles are tight, which are weak, and what movement patterns are causing the overload.

Pain Relief and Calming the Area

In the early stages, our focus is on reducing your pain and managing inflammation. We use targeted soft tissue techniques on the surrounding muscles of the neck, upper back, and chest to reduce the overall tension and load on the shoulder joint, allowing the acutely injured tissues to begin healing.

Restoring Proper Movement and Function

Once the initial pain subsides, we focus on restoring healthy mechanics. This involves:

Soft Tissue Release: Applying techniques to tight muscles that pull the shoulder out of optimal alignment, such as the pectoral muscles (pecs), latissimus dorsi (lats), and upper trapezius.

Trigger Point Therapy: Deactivating painful trigger points in the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles that can cause local and referred pain.

Improving Scapular Control: Using hands-on techniques and specific exercises to ensure your shoulder blade is gliding correctly, creating more space for the rotator cuff tendons to move without being pinched.

Speeding Up Recovery with Rehabilitation

This is the most critical phase for long-term success. A Myotherapist will prescribe a tailored corrective exercise program designed to:

  • Strengthen the rotator cuff muscles and, just as importantly, the larger supporting muscles of the back and shoulder.
  • Stretch tight muscles to improve posture and flexibility.
  • Educate you on postural awareness, workplace ergonomics, and how to safely modify your activities to avoid future issues.

Your Partner in Recovery

A rotator cuff injury can be complex, but with a structured and holistic treatment plan, a full recovery is possible. By combining hands-on therapy to relieve pain and restore movement with a personalised rehabilitation program, Myotherapy provides an effective pathway back to a strong, stable, and pain-free shoulder.

If you are struggling with shoulder pain, book a consultation to have it properly assessed and start on the right path to recovery.