Anatomy of Shoulder

• Your shoulder joint connects to your upper body via your arm. It includes two bones within your shoulder: the shoulder blade, or scapula, and humerus, or upper arm bone. These bones are covered by cartilage. The cartilage in your shoulder allows you to move your shoulder joint with a smooth, painless and fluid motion.
  
  

Rotator Cuff

• The term "rotator cuff" actually refers to the combination of ligaments and muscles in your shoulder joint. The ligaments connect your shoulder blade and upper arm bones. Most importantly, ligaments help keep your shoulder in place. The other part of your rotator cuff is comprised of your shoulder muscles. Your muscles are actually attached to your shoulder blade and anchor the head of your humerus bone and your shoulder blade. A fluid-filled sac called bursa prevents your rotator cuff from rubbing against your shoulder.
  
  

Injuries

• When you experience rotator cuff injuries, you feel tenderness and weakness in your shoulder. You can't move your shoulder normally and have pain. Symptoms can appear over time. There are various reasons why rotator cuff injuries occur. For instance, you may fall on your shoulder, have bursitis, or inflammation of the bursa, or tendinitis. Other injuries occur if your rotator cuff becomes pinched between your bone and shoulder joint or you sustain strains or tears in the muscles or tendons. Repetitive motion can also injure your rotator cuff.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Regular shoulder exercises like the blade squeeze can help prevent rotator cuff injuries. To perform the blade squeeze, bend your arms at the elbows. Make sure your forearms are in front of your body, then push your elbows back. Squeeze your shoulder blades together for 10 seconds and repeat three to five times.
  
  

Considerations

• If you experience a rotator cuff injury, seek immediate medical attention. Your doctor will diagnose rotator cuff injuries after a thorough physical examination and tests like an MRI, arthrogram (where dye is injected into your shoulder joint) or shoulder x-ray. If diagnosed, you can perform exercises and physical therapy stretches at home to increase the range of motion in your shoulder and strengthen your shoulder muscles.