10/18/2026
You go in for shoulder pain that just doesn't get better or you've maybe even had a diagnosis and surgery but all you were told was "rotator cuff tendonitis," "rotator cuff tear" or "rotator cuff repair."
When you come and relay this to me, I dont have a lot to go on.
So! I start asking lots of questions like....
👉 When does it hurt you the most?
👉 Can you point to where it hurts the most?
👉 How is putting on your seat belt or jacket?
👉 What about carrying groceries, or brushing your hair, or raising it above your head?
👉 Is there any shoulder position that doesn't hurt?
All of these questions help me pinpoint what muscle or muscles in your shoulder might be contributing to the problem.
Often, its not only one of them and it often involves muscles nearby that arent even in the rotator cuff!
So what are these 4 muscles? The Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teresa Minor, and Subscapularis.
If you know them, you can then ask your doctor to be specific in what they tell you so all of us can know what's going on to give you the best care possible.