Rotator Cuff Tear

OPA treats a wide variety of shoulder conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions.

What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

 The rotator cuff tendons stabilize the shoulder and help it move. A rotator cuff tear occurs when one or more of the rotator cuff tendons are torn. Tendon tears can be partial or complete. They are grouped into non-degenerative and degenerative categories.

Common Causes:

    • Sports injuries
    • Traumatic accidents
    • Osteoarthritis

Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tear may include:

    • Pain
    • Weakness
    • Stiffness
    • Swelling
    • Bruising
    • Decreased range of motion/inability to move the arm

When you arrive for your initial consultation, one of our team of shoulder specialists will evaluate your areas of concern, discuss your symptoms, and develop a customized and comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. This evaluation is a necessary part of diagnosing your condition and providing the best possible care.

When diagnosing a rotator cuff tear, The OPA Shoulder Specialist:

    • A medical, injury, and symptom history review
    • A physical examination
    • Multiple view x-rays

Once an official diagnosis is made, a customized treatment plan is prescribed. Treatment plans decrease symptoms as quickly as possible.

Common Treatments:

Nonsurgical treatment options may be used to treat some rotator cuff tears. An OPA specialist’s nonsurgical treatment plan includes:

NSAIDs
Decrease inflammation and pain.
Physical Therapy

One of OPA’s onsite physical therapists prescribes and monitors strengthening and stretching exercises.

Rest & Ice
Temporarily stopping or slowing down activities that cause shoulder tendonitis gives inflammation a chance to calm down.

Many complete rotator cuff tendon tears require surgical intervention. The team of shoulder specialists have expertise in performing minimally invasive arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs.

Schedule Appointment with Our Shoulder Team

Questions?

The OPA team includes Alaska’s leading specialists and offers some of the latest, most advanced treatment procedures available today.

OPA treats a wide variety of conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions, minimally invasive arthroscopies (repairs) and total joint replacement.

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