It is commonly injured in the workplace or with sports and activities when a person performs repetitive overhead activity using the arm. Most people with a rotator cuff injury complain of pain and weakness of the shoulder. Stiffness is also a common symptom. When I see patients in my office, most have started to use the common anti-inflammatory medication ibuprofen. When stiffness and pain are present, I will encourage the use of anti-inflammatory medications and an exercise program to stretch and strengthen the rotator cuff.
Patients often make a common mistake when it comes to exercising the shoulder.
Most individual will go the gym and lift weight to build up the shoulder. But the muscles that make up the rotator cuff are deep inside a require special exercises to build them up. X-rays can tell you a lot about what's going on. Often times the shape of the shoulder bones can play a part in rotator cuff injuries. When I see a bone spur I will often recommend a cortisone shot to help with the inflammation.