Health Tip: Could It Be a Torn Rotator Cuff?

Here are basic warning signs

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(HealthDay News) -- The rotator cuff is a network of muscles and tendons that cover the upper arm bone and allow the arm to rotate. An injury or overuse can lead to a painful rotator cuff tear.

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The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons provides this list of common symptoms of a torn rotator cuff:

• Shrinking or thinning muscles surrounding the shoulder.
• Pain that occurs when you try to lift your arm, or lower it when completely raised.
• A feeling of weakness when you move or lift your arm.
• A "crackling" sensation when you move your shoulder in certain ways.

-- Diana Kohnle