Rotator Cuff Tears: What You Need to Know (From Someone Who’s Been There)

I used to think my shoulder was going to fall off.Seriously.

Back in PT school, I was dealing with a ton of left shoulder pain—ironically, right when we were learning about shoulder assessments and rotator cuff tears. Every test was painful. Every assessment felt like confirmation that something was wrong. Naturally, I convinced myself I had a rotator cuff tear and that I was doomed to surgery or limited movement forever.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t need surgery. I didn’t ruin my shoulder. And now I’m back to lifting overhead, doing push-ups, muscle-ups, and everything in between.

As a provider at Made 2 Move, a Charleston physical therapy clinic that specializes in active recovery and performance, I’ve seen this exact fear play out in our patients. That’s why I’m sharing what I wish I had known back then—and what I tell all of my clients today.

1. A Rotator Cuff Tear Isn’t the End of the World

When you hear the word “tear,” you probably picture a piece of paper ripping in half. But think of your rotator cuff more like a thick, layered quilt—a complex network of fibers. A rotator cuff tear typically involves some fraying or damage to a portion of those fibers—not a complete rupture.

Your shoulder is still functional, even if you’ve got a partial tear. With the right guidance and progressive rehab, many people return to full activity and even build a stronger shoulder than they had before.

At Made 2 Move Charleston, our goal is to help you get back to doing the things you love—without unnecessary fear or surgery.

2. Rotator Cuff Tears Can Heal!

Yes, really.

Just like your skin heals from a cut, your body is capable of healing internally too. Even some larger tears can heal with the right approach to physical therapy, strength training, and time.

Most of our Charleston physical therapy clients walk in hoping to avoid surgery—and many do just that. The key is a targeted plan that addresses weakness, builds resilience, and doesn’t avoid movement.

I personally went from avoiding overhead pressing to doing:

• Bench press

• Butterfly pull-ups

• Push-ups

• Muscle-ups…and more.

  
  

Healing is possible. Recovery is possible. Strength is possible.

3. Pain Doesn’t Always Mean Damage

Pain can be scary. It feels like something must be wrong.

But what I’ve learned—and what the science backs up—is that pain is often a signal of irritation or overload, not injury. My shoulder pain was real, but it wasn’t because I was tearing it further. I just didn’t have the strength or stability at the time to handle what I was doing. My shoulder was trying to get my attention.

And side note: Just because you have shoulder pain doesn’t mean you have a tear. And just because you have a tear doesn’t mean you’ll have pain.

4. Rotator Cuff Tears Are Common (Even in People With No Pain)

Here’s one of the wildest truths we share with our patients at Made 2 Move:

Rotator cuff tears are extremely common on imaging—even in people with ZERO shoulder pain.

Seriously. We see it all the time in people over 40 or 50. It’s like wrinkles or gray hair—just signs of living life. Having a tear on an MRI doesn’t automatically mean you’ll need surgery or that the tear is even the cause of your pain.

If you're in Charleston and unsure what your MRI results mean, our physical therapists can help walk you through them and provide honest feedback about your best options for recovery.

5. Movement Is Key

The biggest mistake I made with my own shoulder pain?

I stopped moving.

I was so afraid of doing more damage that I avoided using my shoulder completely. That made things worse—not better.

The best thing you can do is keep your shoulder moving in smart, intentional ways. That means:

• Strengthening what’s weak

• Mobilizing what’s tight

• Gradually increasing your load and volume

• Staying active and consistent

  
  

At Made 2 Move, we help our clients navigate that process every day through personalized rehab plans and coaching. Whether you’re post-op, dealing with chronic shoulder pain, or trying to avoid surgery, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

The Bottom Line: You’re Not Broken

Rotator cuff tears don’t have to be scary. They don’t always require surgery. And they definitely don’t mean the end of your active lifestyle.

If you're in the Charleston or Charlotte area and looking for expert physical therapy to help with a rotator cuff tear, or just want a second opinion, we’d love to help.

👋 Book a free consultation with Made 2 Move today and find out what’s actually possible for your shoulder.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog, where I’ll share the exact shoulder exercises that helped me recover—and some we use every day in our clinic for shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries.

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Regional Interdependence

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Part 1: Return to Sport after ACL injury: Are Traditional Hop Tests Enough?

Part 2: Return to Sport after ACL Injury: What Should be Assessed?

Real Talk About Dry Needling: What Our Physical Therapists Really Think

Effective ACL Rehabilitation in Charleston Through Physical Therapy

Downtown Charleston ACL Rehab: Understanding, Treating, and Recovering from ACL Tears

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