Rotator Cuff Injury: Signs, Symptoms, and When to Seek Care

Rotator cuff pathology ranges from tendinopathy to full‑thickness tears.

Common Signs

• Pain: Anterolateral shoulder, worse overhead, at night.
• Weakness: Difficulty lifting, reaching behind back.
• Limited active ROM (abduction, external rotation).
• Crepitus, clicking, catching.
• Night pain disturbing sleep.

Red Flags for Urgent Evaluation

• Acute trauma with sudden weakness (possible full tear).
• Inability to actively abduct arm (pseudoparalysis).
• Signs of infection (rare): fever, erythema, warmth.

Early diagnosis (clinical + imaging) improves outcomes, especially for repairable tears.