Is Your Shoulder Pain Caused by a Rotator Cuff Tear?
A rotator cuff tear might be the cause of that lingering shoulder pain. Back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and of course that lingering chronic pain you simply can’t alleviate, might be cause by several other (more severe) issues you would never consider. A torn rotator cuff is just one of those underlying causes to that severe shoulder pain which simply won’t go away. A study was conducted with a total of 683 test subjects, whether they suffered from shoulder, chronic pain, or other types of lingering pain, to determine just how common this issue really was. With 1366 shoulders, the breakdown of this study was 229 males, and 454 female subjects. The average age group was approximately 58 years old, with participants from age 22 up to 87 years of age.
Of these participants who suffered from shoulder, back pain, neck pain, and other forms of general pain, a total of 20.7% had rotator cuff tears. Of the suffering from pain in the shoulder, seeking pain relief, 36% had tears which were found via ultrasound readings, and those who did not suffer from pain in their shoulder, 17% were found to have tears. Risk of trauma, along with older age, were among the leading factors found to contribute to the tears and pain participants suffered from.
A review from radiologic studies which constituted of 2553 shoulders found that full thickness around the cuff was approximately 11.75% and 18.49% suffered from partial tears. This was about 30.24% of all participants suffering from pain in the shoulder. Of the total group, 40% of the participants didn’t complain of any pain whatsoever, and studies found that rotator cuff tear were not only common, but were frequently asymptomatic as well.
Both studies found it best to first consider clinical representation, followed by imaging results. A presence of a tear (in an MRI reading), isn’t automatically going to equate to a patient suffering from pain (or vice-versa). Individuals seeking chiropractic care might be wondering what else could be contributing to the pain. The possibilities are voluminous which include: osteoporosis, frozen shoulders, sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, RA, and several other lingering causes may contribute to the pain. Shoulder dislocation, whiplash, and other contributing factors were also found to contribute to pain individuals suffered from in the shoulder, and other areas of the body.
Other than rotator cuff tear, referred pain to the shoulder, which stems from an impaired heart (coronary heart disease or other conditions), are also contributing factors which individuals seeking chiropractic care and other remedies, may also suffer from. Gall bladder, lung, liver, and other medical emergencies, are frequently found to be tied to shoulder, chronic, and other fatigue or forms of pain individuals typically suffer from.
Dr. David Warwick, DC, is a board-certified chiropractor with over two decades of experience helping people find fast, effective relief from back and neck pain. He is the only chiropractor in Lacey, WA certified in the Zone Technique — a specialized healing method that restores balance to the body’s six systems for long-term wellness.
At Warwick Chiropractic & Massage, Dr. Warwick focuses on short-term, results-driven care, helping patients return to life without unnecessary long-term treatment plans. His clinic welcomes walk-ins and offers convenient online scheduling for modern, flexible chiropractic care.
Dr. Warwick is committed to educating his patients and the public about natural pain relief, spinal health, and how chiropractic care can be both simple and life-changing.
