Rotator Cuff Tears Resulting From Auto Injury

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause for impairing pain among adults. A 2008 study determined that nearly 2 million individuals in the United States alone received medical attention due to a rotator cuff complication. A torn rotator cuff often leads to shoulder weakness, greatly restricting a person’s normal range of motion and making everyday activities painful and difficult. There are many causes behind this type of shoulder injury, but rotator cuff tears resulting after an automobile accident, although often misconceived, are more frequent than people foresee.

Anatomy: Shoulder Rotator Cuff Injury

The shoulder has a wider range of motion than any other joint in the body. The rotator cuff consists of four muscles and tendons which merge together to surround and protect the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade, mainly functioning to provide motion to the arm, allowing it to lift and rotate in a broad extent of motions.

A tear is characterized when one of the four muscles and/or tendons around the shoulder joint become damaged or injured, usually from repetitive overuse of the shoulder, or in other cases, as a result of direct trauma from being involved in a forceful automobile accident. When a single or multiple of the rotator cuff tendons is torn, the tendon no longer fully attaches to the head of the humerus. Different types of tears may occur. A partial tear is identified as damage to the soft tissue where it hasn’t been completely severed. A full-thickness tear, also referred to as a complete tear, is identified when the soft tissue splits into two pieces. In a majority of cases, tendons may tear where they attach to the shoulder joint. With a full-thickness tear, there is essentially, a gap in the tendon.

Shoulder Pain After Auto Injury

Rotator cuff tears are most often associated with rear-end collisions, however, any type of car accident can lead to shoulder injury. During an auto accident, many individuals tend to tense up and brace their hands against the steering wheel which causes the shoulders to absorb a large amount of the force from the impact. Rotator cuff tears are very likely to occur in this instance.

If after being involved in an automobile accident, the individual experiences shoulder pain, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention to properly diagnose any damage or injury to the structures surrounding the shoulder joint. Other rotator cuff tear symptoms include; radiating pain along the top or outer sides of the shoulder which travel throughout the arm, restricted mobility, inflammation and swelling, popping or clicking while moving the arm, and overall weakness of the region.

There are a variety of treatment options available for a rotator cuff tear depending on the severity of the injury. Whether the tear is mild or severe, many shoulder complications can be treated with chiropractic care. A chiropractor will use careful adjustments and manual manipulations to gradually correct a variety of other complications that may have developed during the car crash, including spinal misalignments and whiplash injuries. Additionally, a chiropractor may follow through with an appropriate set of stretches and exercises to progressively strengthen the muscles and other tissues surrounding the shoulder joint. Because we depend on our shoulders for optimal arm movement, rotator cuff health is essential towards an efficient, daily lifestyle.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.elpasochiropractorblog.com

There are many causes behind this type of shoulder injury, but rotator cuff tears resulting after an automobile accident, although often misconceived, are more frequent than people foresee. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Contact Us

 

Additional Articles

 

Clinic Location: bit.ly/dralexjimenezclinic

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Rotator Cuff Tears Resulting From Auto Injury" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Welcome to El Paso's  Wellness blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.

Our areas of chiropractic practice include  Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.

Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807
New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate 
Texas RN License # 1191402 
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)

 

Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Recent Posts

Chiropractic Legal Support in MVA Personal Injury Cases

Chiropractic and Nurse Practitioner Care at Wellness Doctor RX: Your Path to Recovery After Motor… Read More

June 27, 2025

Chiropractic Treatment: What You Need to Know After an MVA

Chiropractic treatment following an MVA offers solutions for pain management and recovery. Find out more… Read More

June 27, 2025

Motor Vehicle Accidents: Understanding Causes for Back Pain

Find out about back pain related to motor vehicle accidents and effective strategies to alleviate… Read More

June 26, 2025

Musculoskeletal Trauma Healing Plan for Quick Recovery

Comprehensive Healing After Motor Vehicle Accidents: Integrating Chiropractic, Nurse Practitioners, Acupuncture, and Massage Therapy Understanding… Read More

June 26, 2025

Spinal Prevention from Auto Injuries for Drivers Today

Understand the importance of spinal prevention from auto injuries and how to maintain spinal health… Read More

June 25, 2025

Wellness-Based Accident Rehabilitation for Motorists

Reclaiming Wellness After Nerve Damage From a Car Accident Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) can cause… Read More

June 25, 2025