Rotator Cuff Injury
Traditional Chinese Medicine Definition
In traditional Chinese medicine, rotator cuff injury falls under the category of "muscle and tendon injury," referring to the damage of soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the shoulder joint. According to the classical text "Internal Medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine," it is described as: "Rotator cuff injury is caused by falls, twists, strains, and other factors that damage the tendons and meridians of the shoulder, leading to obstructed circulation of Qi and blood, resulting in pain due to obstruction."
In TCM clinical practice, the core pathogenesis of rotator cuff injury is damage to the sinews and meridians, with obstructed Qi-blood circulation. Common triggers include trauma from falls, sprains and contusions, and chronic strain. During syndrome differentiation, attention should be paid to the following key points:
1. Cold, heat, deficiency, and excess: In cold-damp invasion, there is shoulder pain aggravated by cold; in heat-toxin invasion, there is redness, swelling, heat and pain in the shoulder; in Qi-blood deficiency, there is aching weakness of the shoulder and muscle atrophy.
2. Disease location and nature: The disease is located in the shoulder, with the nature mainly being pain, aching, and weakness.
3. Limited mobility: Limited shoulder joint mobility, especially in abduction, external rotation, and posterior extension.
Overall direction of regulation: In TCM clinical practice, treatment mostly uses methods such as invigorating blood and resolving stasis, regulating Qi and relieving pain, nourishing blood and nourishing sinews, and unblocking collaterals and relieving pain. Through internal herbal medicine, external application, and comprehensive therapies such as acupuncture and tuina, it promotes Qi-blood circulation, repairs damaged tissues, relieves pain, and restores shoulder joint function. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that treatment should flexibly apply different methods based on the specific syndrome type to achieve the best therapeutic effect.
Common Syndrome Types and Key Points of Differentiation
Stagnation and blood stasis
Main Manifestations: Stabbing pain in the shoulder that is fixed, worse with movement
Management Approach: Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, regulate Qi and relieve pain
Nutrition Deficiency of Channels and Collaterals
Main Manifestations: Soreness, weakness, and difficulty in lifting the shoulders, muscle atrophy
Management Approach: Nourish blood and invigorate tendons, unblock meridians and relieve pain
The above syndrome information is based on traditional Chinese medicine textbooks and clinical standards. Specific differentiation should be completed by a practicing traditional Chinese medicine physician in person.
Physician's Clinical Insights
Patients with rotator cuff injury mostly have sinew injury and bone misalignment. Attention should be paid to regulating the sinews and correcting the bones, restoring shoulder joint function.
— Fan Li Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioner Assistant Physician
Related Practicing Physicians
This page is for the popular science of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Specific diagnosis should be completed by a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in person.
This article has been reviewed by licensed TCM physicians at Hangzhou Kezhentang TCM Clinic. It is for TCM popular science reference only and does not involve specific treatment plan recommendations.
References: Internal Medicine of TCM (13th Five-Year Plan Textbook), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Effectiveness Standards for TCM Diseases and Syndromes (ZY/T001.1-94), Classification and Codes of TCM Diseases and Syndromes (GB/T 15657-2021)