Understanding the Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that hold your shoulder in place. Tears or “impingement” (pinching) of these tendons cause pain when you lift your arm out to the side or overhead.
Common Symptoms
- Weakness when lifting heavy objects.
- Pain when reaching for a seatbelt or brushing your hair.
- A painful “arc” of movement (pain between 60 and 120 degrees).
The Ashbourne Approach
Most rotator cuff issues respond brilliantly to physiotherapy without the need for surgery. We use manual therapy to create more “space” in the shoulder joint and design a targeted strengthening programme for the cuff muscles. This helps to ‘centralise’ the joint, allowing you to lift without the tendon getting pinched and giving it chance to recover naturally. For more longstanding problems, shockwave treatment is a great adjunct. (See our Shockwave page)
