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Health Tip: Could It Be a Torn Rotator Cuff?

(HealthDay News) -- The rotator cuff is a network of muscles and tendons that cover the upper arm bone and allow the arm to rotate. An injury or overuse can lead to a painful rotator cuff tear.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons provides this list of common symptoms of a torn rotator cuff:

  • Shrinking or thinning muscles surrounding the shoulder.

  • Pain that occurs when you try to lift your arm, or lower it when completely raised.

  • A feeling of weakness when you move or lift your arm.

  • A "crackling" sensation when you move your shoulder in certain ways.

Date Last Reviewed: 9/18/2009
Date Last Modified: 9/18/2009