The Rotator Cuff

Ever been told that you have a ‘rotator cuff injury’? Did you know that the rotator cuff is actually not one thing but a group of muscles that all help to stabilize the head (top) of your upper arm bone (the humerus) in your shoulder socket (which is part of your shoulder blade or scapula)? More specifically, the tendons of those muscles encapsulate the head of the humerus, in essence forming a ‘cuff’. A jaunty little cap if you will! Those muscles are sometimes referred to by the acronym SITS:

Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, and Subscapularis

I often see clients who have been told that they have a rotator cuff injury (strain, tear, etc.) but haven’t been given any more specifics than that. It’s helpful to know which muscle(s) in particular are affected. Although they all attach to form that ‘cuff’, they are responsible for different actions of the arm. I hope you aren’t diagnosed with such an injury, but if you are, impress your physician and ask which of the SITS muscles with a knowing glint in your eye!

I’m about to embark on a 4-month course delving into the shoulder in a lot of detail. Anatomy was one of my favourite courses when I studied massage therapy and I’m looking forward to getting back into learning mode. I’ll also be learning many more assessment tools which will help me help you with a more targeted massage treatment and specific exercises to do at home.