What are Shoulder Rotator cuff muscles? Why they might be the source of your upper back, neck and shoulder pain?

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One of my clients was diagnosed with Rotator cuff muscles injury.  She asked me about the rotator cuff muscles and why they are contributing to the shoulder pain and neck pain.  Today we will talk about the function of rotator cuff muscles.

There are 4 rotator cuff  muscles:

  • Supraspinatus
  • Infraspinatus
  • Teres Minor
  • Subscapularis



























The primary function of the rotator cuff muscles is to maintain the stability of the glenohumeral (GH) joint, which is part of the shoulder complex.  As you can see, there are 3 bones in the shoulder complex: Scapula, clavicle and humeral bone.
When the rotator cuff muscles are weak and could not maintain the humeral head close to the glenoid of the scapula, the humeral head might not glide smoothly and impinge surrounding tissues, causing connective tissue problems, such as tendinitis, bursitis, capsulitis, or rupture of tendons or ligaments.
Image result for GH joint inferior glide
When the connective tissues and muscles around the shoulder complex cannot compensate the movements of daily tasks or when the external loading was too high, the neck and/or thoracic muscles will try to compensate and ended up with spasm.
If you have muscle spasm of the upper back or neck pain or a headache, talk to your physical therapist about your upper back biomechanics. You might be surprised to see how much improvement you will get by strengthening those RC muscles.

As I mentioned in the previous post about the neck, you will benefit from skilled PT service for your neck and shoulder and upper back by simple stretching and strengthening; avoid injury by holding the shoulder and neck and upper back in a correct position during a workout. If you are not sure about your workout patterns due to pain or previous injuries, go to PTcares.com and request a free discovery visit with Dr Wu, Doctor of Physical Therapy.

*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources for educational purpose. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your healthcare provider because of any information you read on this topic. For more info or service of physical therapy in Albuquerque, please visit www.PTcares.com.

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