Rotator Cuff Pain and Rotator Cuff Injuries are the result of discomfort or trauma felt within the muscles that make up the rotator cuff of the shoulder. Rotator Cuff Pain can be felt as pain in the front or back of the affected shoulder, as well as down the arm and in the neck, in some cases. This is because the muscles that control the movement of the shoulder and the position of the shoulderblade all occupy a small area within the shoulder joint, and work very closely together. The muscles of the Rotator Cuff are found on the side and back of the shoulder, but many muscles support the stability and function of the shoulder joint, and all can be implicated or affected in rotator cuff pain.
Rotator Cuff Pain is most commonly caused by over-use of the shoulder, by injury, or by age-related changes to the joints of the shoulder, neck and collarbone. The shoulder joint consists of numerous muscles all working together to articulate the shoulderblade and stabilise the arm so that we can complete tasks requiring dexterity, finesse, and power. We write, work, exercise and play with our arms and our hands because they are designed to produce a nearly infinite combination of movements to help us interact with the world. During the course of this interaction, we may over-exert ourselves and cause ourselves injury, or we may cause irritation of the muscles, joints, and ligaments within the rotator cuff as a result of our doing the same movements over and over again without taking time to relax and soothe those working parts. The prevalence of rotator cuff tears has been found to be approximately 10% in individuals under 20 years of age, and increase sixfold in those over 80 (Maennich, 2024). Age is one of the strongest predictors of rotator cuff degeneration, and age‑related change is a major contributor to symptoms (Gumina et al., 2016). Age‑related changes in the shoulder are therefore normal, expected, though often silent until irritated.
Rotator Cuff Pain can be localised to different parts of the shoulder, the upper arm, the chest, and can also be distinguished by how long the pain has been present as well as if the neck is affected. An episode of Rotator Cuff Pain that lasts for less than six weeks is called Acute Pain. Pain that lasts longer than six weeks but less than twelve is called Sub-Acute Pain, and pain that lasts longer than twelve weeks is called Chronic Pain. A cross‑sectional population study from the Chingford cohort found a prevalence of rotator cuff tendon tears in adults, where symptomatic tears contribute significantly to presentation (Hinsley et al., 2022), as well as finding concomitant rotator cuff tears occur frequently alongside proximal humerus fractures and shoulder dislocations, where trauma can cause secondary damage to the rotator cuff (Green et al., 2022), resulting in a spectrum of conditions ranging from mild tendinopathy to full‑thickness tears, each requiring tailored management (Zhou et al., 2023).
Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries is a process that involves addressing physical, occupational, personal, and lifestyle risk factors to minimise pain and maximise function. These details are carefully explored during your first assessment, which sets the foundation for reducing pain and improving comfort. Your treatment plan will be personalised to target the underlying cause, with a focus on easing pain, restoring free movement, and building strategies to lower the chance of future flare-ups.
At Atlas Physio, we’re committed to supporting you with clear education, structured management, and consistent monitoring of your progress both in the clinic and at home. To make care straightforward and accessible, we’re open seven days a week with evening appointments available, we provide bulk billing for eligible clients, and there are no gap fees for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today and take the first step toward feeling more comfortable, moving with confidence, and enjoying lasting results backed by care that is practical, reliable, and effective.
REFERENCES
Gumina, S., Passaretti, D., & Candela, V. (2016). Epidemiology and demographics of the rotator cuff tear. In Rotator Cuff Tear (pp. 53–59). Springer
Green, M., Whetter, R., & Al‑Dadah, O. (2022). Proximal humerus fractures and shoulder dislocations: Prevalence of concomitant rotator cuff tear. Journal of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Rehabilitation, 30, 1–6
Hinsley, H., Ganderton, C., Arden, N., & Carr, A. (2022). Prevalence of rotator cuff tendon tears and symptoms in a Chingford general population cohort, and the resultant impact on UK health services: A cross‑sectional observational study. BMJ Open, 12(9), e059175.
Maennich, D. (2024). Rotator cuff tears. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 10, Article 9. Retrieved 13th December 2025 from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-024-00499-w.epdf
Zhou, T., Han, C., & Weng, X. (2023). Present situation and development prospects of the diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff tears. Frontiers in Surgery, 10, 857821.