Rotator Cuff Specialist

What is the rotator cuff?

Your shoulder is a complex joint where your humerus, scapula, and clavicle (upper arm bone, shoulder blade, and collarbone) are held together by your rotator cuff. Your rotator cuff is a network of muscles and tendons that provide stability and facilitate your shoulder’s extraordinary range of motion.

What are common rotator cuff injuries?

Your rotator cuff is vulnerable to a wide range of injuries and degenerative conditions. Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common injuries. You can also develop tendinitis, bursitis, impingement, and strains.

You can have a partial or full rotator cuff tear. Rotator cuff tears stem from repetitive wear-and-tear or an acute injury. While anyone can develop a rotator cuff injury, athletes are vulnerable to both degenerative and acute rotator cuff tears.

Rotator cuff injuries cause a dull, deep aching discomfort. Your pain might be worse when you lie down and put weight on your shoulder. You might also lose some of your range of motion and have trouble combing your hair or reaching behind your back.

How are rotator cuff injuries diagnosed?

If you have shoulder pain that lasts for more than a few days or if it relates to a specific injury, contact Dr. Makani and the team at Ascend Orthopaedics And Sports Medicine. They provide thorough exams and testing to diagnose your injury and assess its severity.

Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Makani might also order X-rays, MRI scans, or CT scans. He also might perform arthroscopy.

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses technology to send images from inside your shoulder joint to a video monitor in the treatment room. Dr. Makani and the team can examine the images to diagnose rotator cuff injuries and other joint problems.

How are rotator cuff injuries treated?

Dr. Makani and his team provide personalized treatments for rotator cuff injuries. Depending on your condition, they might recommend immobilization, cortisone injections, stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and physical therapy.

Dr. Makani also offers advanced same-day procedures using minimally invasive scope technology to repair rotator cuff injuries and other types of shoulder injuries and diseases.

Call Ascend Orthopaedics And Sports Medicine or make an appointment online today if you have shoulder pain that’s interfering with your quality of life.