A rotator cuff tear occurs when there is a tear – of any length, on any part of the rotator cuff. 

There are 2 types of rotator cuff tears, these are:

• Partial: a partial or incomplete tear occurs when part of the rotator cuff is still attached to the humerus (arm bone).
• Complete: a complete tear occurs when the rotator cuff is completely detached or torn away from the humerus. 

• Injury: falling on your shoulder can cause your rotator cuff to tear due to a shoulder dislocation or a broken collarbone.
• Degenerative: common in athletes such as tennis players, golfers, baseball players, etc. and often occurs due to overuse. Degenerative causes of rotator cuff tears may also occur as a result of ageing as it increases the incidence of bone spurs, in turn increasing the likelihood of a shoulder impingement, ultimately leading to a rotator cuff tear. Additionally, as we age, blood supply reduces, thus affecting the ability of our muscles and tendons to heal properly and remain healthy, making us more prone to rotator cuff tears. 

• Immediate or gradual shoulder pain. Injury from a fall usually results in immediate and intense shoulder pain while degenerative causes result in gradual pain that slowly becomes worse with time.
• Shoulder muscle weakness may occur preventing you from lifting or gripping things. 
• Cracking or popping sound in the affected shoulder when moving your arm.
• Limited range of motion in your arm/shoulder due to pain and/or muscle weakness.
• Inability to lie on or put weight on the affected shoulder.

However, there are several factors that increase your risk of a rotator cuff tear, these are:

• Occupations/hobbies: certain occupations or hobbies that require repetitive swinging or lifting can increase your risk of a rotator cuff tear. These include, tennis, golf, baseball, painting, lifting heavy objects, etc.
• Age: rotator cuff injuries are more common in older individuals. As we age, we may develop bone spurs that can wear away the rotator cuff muscles or cause shoulder impingements. Our blood supply to muscles and tendons also reduce as we age, affecting their ability to heal and remain healthy, thus increasing the risk of rotator cuff tears.
• Genetics: studies have shown that rotator cuff injuries tend to run in families. 
• Smoking: studies have found that not only does smoking increase your risk of a rotator cuff tear, it also impacts the severity of a rotator cuff tear. The number of cigarettes smoked is directly related to the size of your rotator cuff tear. 

• Physical examination: a physical examination and discussion with regards to your medical history will first be conducted to identify the area of pain, range of motion, and possible cause of your shoulder pain. 
• X-ray: an x-ray will identify the area of pain/discomfort and the type/severity of your rotator cuff tear.
• Ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): like an x-ray but with more details, an MRI will be able to identify the type and severity of your rotator cuff tear. 

Treatment options include:

• Rest: an arm sling can be used to rest it and prevent any unnecessary movement so that your shoulder can heal.
• Medication: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and painkillers can be prescribed to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
• Physiotherapy: physiotherapy incorporates gentle and therapeutic exercises that can be used to help strengthen your muscles and tendons.
• Corticosteroid injections: these corticosteroid injections help to reduce inflammation and relieve pain but it cannot be used as a long-term solution – long term use of steroids can weaken tendons.
• Surgery: involves the minimally invasive shoulder arthroscopy surgery – rotator cuff repair and is usually used when other non-invasive treatment options have failed.