A partial rotator cuff tear can be a debilitating injury. The rotator cuff is juncture of the muscles and tendons of the shoulder. When the area is traumatized or overused, the muscles and tendons that hold it together can rip. This can greatly reduce the function of the joint and be extremely uncomfortable. A partial rotator cuff tear can require many months to heal and could require therapy or even surgery. It is important to identify the symptoms of a partial rotator cuff tear to distinguish it from an ordinary sore shoulder.
Pain
The most obvious symptom of a partial rotator cuff tear is sharp pain in the shoulder area. According to the University of California, San Francisco, this is especially noticeable when the arm is lifted above the head and when it is lowered from a fully raised position. There can also be a constant dull pain. This can be persistent enough to interrupt sleep sporadically throughout the night.
Weakness
A partial rotator cuff tear significantly weakens the shoulder. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, people with partial rotator cuff tears have difficulty raising or rotating items that they previously lifted and rotated with ease. A partial rotator cuff tear can make lifting an arm difficult even when no weight is being lifted.
Thinning Muscles
The pain and weakness associated with a partial rotator cuff tear leads to thinning muscles in the shoulder. The inability to move the shoulder joint without pain or to lift anything heavy contributes to the muscles wasting away. This can become visually obvious over time.
Range of Motion
A partial rotator cuff tear can limit the range of motion of the shoulder joint. According to the University of Washington, the arm often cannot be raised from a lowered position upward toward the front or upward toward the side. A partial rotator cuff tear can also prevent the arm from pushing upward or rotating forward. Athletes who tear their rotator cuff throwing a ball often experience this limited range of motion.
Sounds
Shoulders with partial rotator cuff tears can emit sounds during movement. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons calls this crepitus. It is a cracking or grating sensation in the shoulder as the joint moves. This is the result of torn or misaligned tendons and muscles slipping over each other.
