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Most of us don’t think about our shoulders a whole lot, but we use them every day in almost everything we do. We need them to move our arms forward or back and to rotate them or lift things. Within the shoulder, the primary muscle group that enables us to achieve a wide range of motion is called the rotator cuff. The muscle group is actually comprised of four muscles: the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis-all of which help keep the socket and ball of the shoulder joint properly positioned. When one or more of these muscles is strained, injured, or torn, it is imperative that you recognize the signs early and seek treatment to prevent irreversible damage to the shoulder.

Pain is usually a good indicator that you’ve injured your rotator cuff, and when that pain is toward the top and back of the shoulder or radiating down the entire arm, it usually indicates a more serious injury. This pain usually increases with movement such as lifting or swinging the arm-and it can even be problematic when you try to sleep because pressure on the area also results in pain. When pain killers and other common remedies can’t bring you relief, you may begin to suspect a torn rotator cuff.

A rotator cuff injury is also accompanied by weakness in the arms, such that it impairs your ability to conduct normal day-to-day activities. Getting dressed or combing your hair can even cause shoulder pain. This kind of pain is a classic indicator of a torn rotator cuff.

If you hear noises when trying to move or rotate your arm, that’s another clear sign that something is seriously amiss. Popping, cracking, or grating sounds when using your arm or lifting and lowering your arm are not normal. Usually this is an indication of a torn rotator cuff.

Injuries to the rotator cuff typically start out small or are the result of repeated strain and overuse. As a result, symptoms can start out barely noticeable or seem to come on gradually. But if you fall or get a more jarring injury, you get the full brunt of the pain-complete with weakening and noises in the shoulder accompanied by steady pain. This can also indicate you’ve got a tear in your rotator cuff.

As people age, they typically experience more trouble with rotator cuff injuries. Troubles build up over time and as a result of repeated or excessive use. Initially, symptoms are often ignored and then masked by taking pain pills to try to alleviate the symptoms. But the injury is still there.

You want to treat a rotator cuff injury as soon as possible-before the damage can become more pronounced or even permanent. If home remedies and over the counter medications aren’t relieving your shoulder pain, see your doctor. He can evaluate your shoulder for a potential torn rotator cuff and prescribe exercise, medications, or other appropriate treatments.

Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can follow this link to find out more about having asore wrist.