Stress from overuse or from a fall can also tear a tendon or muscle. Pain is the most common symptom. Your shoulder hurts when you lie on it, put on a shirt or coat, comb your hair, or carry something heavy. Shoulder tenderness, weakness, and loss of movement are also common. With severe injuries, such as large tears, pain may be constant.
Several factors increase the risk of shoulder injury.
Some can be avoided, others cannot. Calcium deposits in the cuff or bone spurs that pinch or irritate the rotator cuff are also more common as we get older. Slouching the neck and shoulders can lead to pinching of muscles and tendons. Repeated overhead movement of your arms can stress your rotator cuff muscles and tendons, causing inflammation and eventually tearing. Falling on or breaking a fall with your arm can bruise or tear a rotator cuff tendon or muscle.