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🏥 Gotokuji Orthopedic Clinic / Patient Guide

Rotator Cuff Tear

Shoulder Tendon Injury
Pain when moving your shoulder or aching at night

❓What Is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles and their tendons that connect your shoulder blade to your upper arm bone. These tendons can tear due to aging or injury.
The rotator cuff helps your shoulder move smoothly. When it is damaged, you may feel pain when moving your shoulder, nighttime pain, and weakness when lifting your arm.
A torn rotator cuff does not heal on its own, but rehabilitation can often improve your symptoms.

⚙️Why Does It Happen?
1
Tendons weaken with age

Over time, the rotator cuff tissue wears down and becomes easier to injure

2
A fall or heavy lifting adds stress

Sudden injury or repeated overuse puts too much force on the tendons

3
The tendon partially or fully tears

Once torn, the shoulder loses stability, causing pain and weakness

👴 Aging 💥 Falls / Trauma 🏋️ Overhead work
🔍Watch for These Symptoms
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Pain when moving your shoulder
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Nighttime shoulder pain that disturbs sleep
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Weakness when lifting your arm
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Grinding or popping sounds in the shoulder
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Difficulty getting dressed or reaching for things overhead
💊Treatment
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Anti-inflammatory Medication
Oral medication to reduce pain and swelling
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Steroid Injection
Quickly relieves severe pain. Injections are not given if there is infection at or around the site, are spaced at least 2 weeks apart, and are kept to a limited number
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Rehabilitation
Strengthens the remaining tendons and surrounding muscles to restore shoulder function
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Surgery
Considered when about 3 months of conservative treatment does not help. Arthroscopic repair is the usual approach, but open surgery may be chosen for large tears. We do not perform surgery here, so we refer you to a partner hospital
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Stretching
Keeps the muscles around the shoulder blade flexible and prevents loss of range of motion
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Heat Therapy
Improves blood flow and helps relieve pain
📈Outlook & Recovery
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Daily life can improve even with a tear

A torn rotator cuff will not heal on its own, but the remaining tendons and surrounding muscles can compensate. With steady rehabilitation, many people regain enough function for daily activities and desk work. Surgery may be considered for those who need to use their arms heavily for work or sports.

🏠If You Have Shoulder Pain

💡 Things to Remember

  • Rotator cuff tears are often mistaken for frozen shoulder — an accurate diagnosis with ultrasound or MRI is important
  • Continuing rehabilitation offers a good chance of improving both pain and function
  • Forcing the shoulder to move can make things worse — follow professional guidance
  • If shoulder pain lasts more than 2 weeks, see a doctor as soon as possible

🩻 Gotokuji Orthopedic Clinic

We can check your shoulder condition right away with ultrasound

📞 03-5451-7878

Weekdays 9:00-12:00 / 14:30-18:30　Sat AM only
5 min walk from Gotokuji Sta. (Odakyu) / Yamashita Sta. (Tokyu Setagaya)