Rotator Cuff Tears – The shoulder is an elegant and complex piece of machinery. Its design allows us to reach and use our hands in many different positions. However, while the shoulder joint has great range of motion, it is not very stable. This makes the shoulder vulnerable to problems if any of its parts aren’t in good working order.
The rotator cuff tendons are key to the healthy functioning of the shoulder. They are subject to a lot of wear and tear, or degeneration, as we use our arms. Tearing of the rotator cuff tendons is an especially painful injury. A torn rotator cuff creates a very weak shoulder. Most of the time patients with torn rotator cuffs are in late middle age. But rotator cuffs tears can happen at any age.
The rotator cuff tendons are key to the healthy functioning of the shoulder. They are subject to a lot of wear and tear, or degeneration, as we use our arms. Tearing of the rotator cuff tendons is an especially painful injury. A torn rotator cuff creates a very weak shoulder. Most of the time patients with torn rotator cuffs are in late middle age. But rotator cuffs tears can happen at any age.
Shoulder is made up of three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the humerus (upper arm bone), and the clavicle (collarbone).
The rotator cuff connects the humerus to the scapula. The rotator cuff is formed by the tendons of four muscles: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.
Tendons attach muscles to bones. Muscles move the bones by pulling on the tendons. The rotator cuff helps raise and rotate the arm. As the arm is raised, the rotator cuff also keeps the humerus tightly in the socket of the scapula.
The upper part of the scapula that makes up the roof of the shoulder is called the acromion. A bursa is located between the acromion and the rotator cuff tendons. A bursa is a lubricated sac of tissue that cuts down on the friction between two moving parts. Bursa are located all over the body where tissues must rub against each other. In this case, the bursa protects the acromion and the rotator cuff from grinding against each other.
Introduction
The condition called de Quervain’s tenosynovitis causes pain on the inside
of the wrist and forearm just above the thumb. It is a common problem
affecting the wrist and is usually easy to diagnose.
Causes of Thumb Tendonitis
Repeatedly performing hand and thumb motions such as grasping,
pinching, squeezing, or wringing may lead to the inflammation of
tenosynovitis. This inflammation can lead to swelling, which hampers the
smooth gliding action of the tendons within the tunnel. Arthritic diseases
that affect the whole body, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause
tenosynovitis in the thumb. In other cases, scar tissue from an injury can
make it difficult for the tendons to slide easily through the tunnel.
Symptoms of Thumb Tendonitis
Introduction
Trigger finger and trigger thumb are conditions affecting the
movement of the tendons as they bend the fingers or thumb toward
the palm of the hand. This movement is called flexion.
Causes of Trigger Finger or Thumb
Triggering is usually the result of a thickening in the tendon that
forms a nodule, or knob. The pulley ligament may thicken as well.
The constant irritation from the tendon repeatedly sliding through the pulley causes the tendon to swell in this area and create the nodule. Rheumatoid arthritis, partial tendon lacerations, repeated trauma from pistol- gripped power tools, or long hours grasping a steering wheel can cause triggering. Infection or damage to the synovium causes a rounded swelling (nodule) to form in the tendon. Triggering can also be caused by a congenital defect that forms a nodule in the tendon. The condition is not usually noticeable until infants begin to use their hands.
Symptoms of Trigger Finger or Thumb
At the Centre for Musculoskeletal Medicine we usually diagnose Thumb injuries easily through a physical examination. Most of the time no special tests are required, however distinguishing between different Thumb injuries, which often carry the very similar symptoms can be the major concern.
