What is a Rotator Cuff?

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that stabilizes the shoulder joint and enables movement of the head and arms. People more than 40 years old and the elderly develop the risk of these types of injuries. It elevates the risk of developing rotator cuff arthropathy.

Common types of rotator cuff injuries result from strains, tendinitis, and tears.

Patients who went through severe rotator cuff injuries should consult with their medical experts regarding the best treatment solution.

Factors that aggravate shoulder injury chances are –

• Age – People older than 60 years are prone to suffer from these types of injuries.
• Family History – Genetical components associated with rotator cuff injuries can resurface the condition in family descendants.
• Sports-related Injuries – Several sports like basketball, baseball, javelin throw, and tennis stress the rotator cuffs and cause accidental injuries during games.

Critical rotator cuff injury cases affect people with a history of diabetes, thyroid, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory arthritis.

Diagnosis of Rotator Cuff Injuries

Medical experts evaluate a patient’s medical history, perform physical blood tests, and conduct imaging scans.

Doctors examine the patient’s range of motion, perform X-rays, and conduct MRI scans.

These tests help to determine the severity of the rotator cuff injury.

Signs and Causes of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Injuries

Persistent pain and inflammation are common problems related to rotator cuff injuries of the shoulder. Degenerated tissues and cells in the shoulder entail several symptoms. Let us take a detailed look into the causes and symptoms separately –

Causes

The leading causes of shoulder injuries include –

• Rotator cuff tears – Persistent pain in the shoulder due to strain and torn rotator cuffs.
• Shoulder Osteoarthritis – Degradation of cells leads to depletion of the joint cartilage in the shoulder causing friction and inflammation.
• Unprecedented injuries – Activities such as heavy lifting and arm-action sports can injure the rotator cuffs in the shoulder.
• Shoulder Bursitis – Bursa is a fluid sac present in the shoulder which covers the joints. Inflammation of this area causes shoulder swelling, pain, and instability.

Symptoms

Rotator cuff injury symptoms are –

• Limited motion of the shoulders
• Frozen shoulder
• Reduced strength of rotator cuffs
• Extreme pain and disturbance in the shoulder while sleeping
• Frequent creaking sounds of the joints with a crackling sensation
• Unbearable pain while moving the arms
• Weakened arms

Diagnosis for Stem Cell Therapy Administration Eligibility

Before stem cell therapy is administered, medical experts need to confirm the eligibility of a patient for the treatment. Eligibility criteria –

• Personal details – Keep a note of the patient’s name, age, gender, and location.
• Medical history – Identify past medical conditions such as respiratory diseases, cardiac problems, neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal problems, and other health conditions of the patient. Additionally, find out if the patient went through any surgeries.
• Conditional symptoms – Find out the severity of rotator cuff muscle injuries and the duration of the problem with the help of blood tests and radio imaging tests.
• Lifestyle choices – Check out for the eating, drinking, and smoking habits.

Stem Cell Therapy vs Surgery: Which Is A Better Option To Treat Shoulder Pain?

Noteworthy benefits of stem cell therapy for treating shoulder pain compared to surgeries are as follows –

• No risks related to invasive approaches like surgical procedures
• No chance of stem cell rejection
• Treats severe diseases without traditional healthcare techniques or medication
• Promotes the healing of damaged tissues

Who Should Choose Stem Cell Therapy for Shoulder Pain?

Patients who fall in the following categories should give stem cell therapy a try in replacement for surgeries –

• No proper results from the medication
• Suffered rotator cuff injuries but only restricted to medication to curb symptoms instead of eliminating the root cause
• No recovery results to provide pain relief even after surgeries
• Consulted with orthopedic experts but were directed for surgeries
• Patients who were put into rehabilitation instead of surgeries or stem cell therapy
• If the patient is scared of invasive surgeries, stem cell therapy is the best solution

Benefits of Stem Cells for Shoulder Rotator Cuff Treatment

Stem cell therapy and treatment for shoulder pain is the most effective way to promote self-healing of the body and reinstate repairing abilities. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord tissue are an ideal treatment compared to invasive surgeries.

The most prolific benefits of this therapy include –

• Alleviate shoulder pain with a non-surgical approach
• Avoid the complications and recovery time related to painful shoulder surgeries
• Administration of stem cells can be divided into 4-5 days sessions
• Stem cells possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and restorative qualities to repair, replace, and regenerate damaged tissues
• Spares the pain related to autologous stem cell collection from the patient’s own body
• Improved mobility of the shoulders
• Strengthened rotator cuff joints
• No pain after the stem cell therapy session is completed
• Conditions do not resurface in the future