How Is a Rotator Cuff Tear Treated?

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that helps lift and rotate the arm. A clinician considers how the tear happened, its size and location, pain, weakness, work or sport demands, and whether the tendon can be repaired. A partial tear may improve with guided rehabilitation, while a larger or traumatic tear with marked weakness may need an orthopaedic opinion about repair. Shoulder stiffness, night pain, and pain when lifting the arm can also shape the plan.

Reduce movements that sharply increase pain, especially repeated overhead lifting, while keeping the shoulder gently moving within a comfortable range. Physiotherapy can restore shoulder motion and build the muscles that support the joint. Medication may help some people manage pain, and an injection may be discussed for short-term symptom relief. Do not restart heavy lifting until strength and movement have been assessed. Follow-up helps show whether function is improving or whether further imaging or surgical review is needed.

Arrange an assessment after a fall, sudden lifting injury, or new inability to raise the arm. Seek prompt medical help for severe pain after an injury, rapidly increasing weakness, a visibly deformed shoulder, fever with a hot swollen joint, or numbness that persists. Ongoing shoulder pain, night pain, or weakness deserves review even when there was no single injury, because several shoulder conditions can produce similar symptoms.

Ask which tendon is affected, whether the tear is partial or complete, and what your examination or scan shows. Ask what movements to avoid, when supervised exercises should begin, how progress will be measured, and when an injection or surgical opinion would be considered.