According to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff tear depend on the cause and severity of the tear.
Causes
Rotator cuff tears can occur during sudden, powerful movements (acute), such as paddling a kayak, or through repetitive movements (chronic) over time, such as throwing a football, according to the Sports Injury Clinic.
Immediate Symptoms
Symptoms of an acute rotator cuff tear are severe pain, increased tenderness and lack of mobility.
Gradual Symptoms
Symptoms of a chronic rotator cuff tear are increased pain over time, decreased movement over time and atrophy in the shoulder muscles.
Considerations
According to the Sports Injury Clinic, individuals should see a doctor when the pain lasts for more than 2 to 3 days or if the individual is unable to move the arm or shoulder at all.
Treatments
If surgery is not required or there isn't a complete tear, then non-surgery options, such as rest, cold packs, physical therapy and pain medications, can be used to treat chronic or partial rotator cuff tears.
