Shoulder pain can really get in the way of daily life. We rely on our shoulders to position our hands in space, whether we’re working, exercising, cooking, or even just getting dressed. If you’ve ever experienced shoulder pain, you’ll know just how limiting it can be.
If you visit your doctor for shoulder pain, you may be referred for imaging such as an ultrasound or MRI. These scans look at the shoulders’ joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. Often, the results will point to the rotator cuff as a possible source of the problem.
But this raises an important question: how common are rotator cuff changes?
Research shows that rotator cuff changes are far more common than most people think, especially as we age. A large systematic review by Teunis et al. (2014), which looked at over 6,000 shoulders, including people with and without pain—found that rotator cuff abnormalities were present in around 10% of people under 20 and in over 60% of people aged 80 and above. In other words, these changes are extremely common and may be a normal part of aging, much like greying or thinning hair.
So if these changes are so common, why do some shoulders become painful while others don’t?
The key point is that what shows up on a scan doesn’t always explain your pain. The body is incredibly resilient and adaptable when given the right conditions. Several factors can influence whether a shoulder becomes painful, including poor or disrupted sleep, high stress levels, sudden increases in activity, and inappropriate or excessive exercise. In many cases, it’s not just one issue, but a combination of factors that leads to symptoms.
The good news is that most shoulder pain improves without surgery. Effective treatment often includes gradual, guided exercise to rebuild strength and tolerance, education about pain to reduce fear and improve confidence in movement, and hands-on therapy where appropriate. Research suggests these approaches should be tried first, and continued if you’re improving, before considering surgical options.
If you’ve been told you have a “tear” or “degeneration” in your shoulder, it’s important to remember that these findings are very common and don’t always mean something is seriously wrong. With the right guidance and a well-structured plan, most people can reduce pain and get back to the activities they enjoy.
Written By: Jared Cox M.Ost, CNP.
Rebuilding shoulder strength requires an evidence-based approach. Book Osteopathic Treatment to discuss a personalized plan for you.
References:
- Teunis T, Lubberts B, Reilly BT, Ring D. (2014). A systematic review and pooled analysis of the prevalence of rotator cuff disease with increasing age. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 23(12), 1913–1921.
- Sambandam SN, Khanna V, Gul A, Mounasamy V. (2015). Rotator cuff tears: An evidence-based approach. World Journal of Orthopedics, 6(11), 902–918.