subject: The Muscles That Make Up Your Rotator Cuff [print this page] You must have often heard of rotator cuff tears in the news, because its one of the most common sports injuries. While rotator cuff tear is an injury normally associated with athletes whose duties involve making repetitive throws, such as baseball pitchers, football quarterbacks, cricket bowlers, boxers, rowers, etc., it can occur wherever repeated overhead motions are the norm, such as with drummers and music conductors. Even a simple act like rolling over in bed can sometimes effect in injury .
To properly realize how rotator tears or other injuries to the rotator cuff occur, its superior to learn about the muscles that build up the rotator cuff, along with the associated bones and tendons. The rotator cuff is composed of the following four muscles, often remembered by the mnemonic SITS:
Note:
1. The scapula is the shoulder blade that connects the arm bone to the collar bone.
2.The humerus is the large bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow.
3.Innervation is the arrangement of nerves in the region.
Supraspinatus muscle - is a comparatively little muscle of the upper limb that runs along the scapula. Its primary duty is to stabilize the arm by holding the head of the humerus in position. It is notable to conduct any progressive shift of the head of humerus, such as while holding bags away from the body.
Infraspinatus muscle - is a wide triangular muscle occupying a big portion of the scapula. It is the important outside rotator of the shoulder joint and used for actions such as brushing hair.
Teres minor muscle - is a thin , elongated muscle of the rotator cuff. Along with the Infraspinatus muscle, it externally rotates the shoulder joint.
Subscapularis muscle - is a big triangular muscle which fills the concave piece of the scapula. It holds the head of the humerus in position and prevents it moving forwards. It is used when internally rotating the arm, like when tucking the back of your shirt into your trousers.
Any impairment to the rotator cuff may be due to a specific impairment such as a fall (acute), or it may be something that gets progressively worse over time with movement that aggravates the muscle (chronic).
As with all muscle injuries, RICE (Rest, Icing, Compression, Elevation) is the preferred process of therapy recommended by doctors and therapists. It may be combined with strengthening through exercises for faster healing. Surgery may be recommended for the worst cases, such as a complete tear that is not responding well to the non-surgical procedures mentioned earlier .
