Pain Condition
Rotator Cuff Injuries
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Your shoulder aches when you reach overhead, sleep on that side or lift something away from your body. You may have been told you have rotator cuff tendinitis or a partial tear. The rotator cuff is four small muscles working together, and when one is injured, the others guard and develop trigger points. Treating the whole group is often what gets the shoulder moving again.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. Their tendons wrap around the top of the arm bone and keep it centered in the shoulder socket as you move.
Rotator cuff injuries range from tendon irritation, called tendinopathy, to partial and full tears. They can come from a fall or lift, or build up over time with overhead work, sport and age. When the cuff is injured, the surrounding muscles guard, trigger points develop in the cuff muscles, and the shoulder blade muscles often stop moving in rhythm. That combination causes much of the pain and weakness people feel.
Your orthopedist evaluates the tendon and decides whether surgery is needed. Many partial tears and tendinopathies respond well to conservative care. Dr. Gordon treats the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, whether you are avoiding surgery or recovering from repair.
Rotator Cuff Injuries at a Glance
Also called
Rotator cuff tendinopathy, tendonitis, partial or full thickness tear
The four muscles
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis
Common causes
Falls, lifting, overhead work and sport, age-related tendon changes
Common symptoms
Pain reaching overhead, night pain, weakness lifting the arm
Key point
Many partial tears and tendinopathies improve without surgery
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Rotator cuff care often focuses on the tendon on the MRI. Trigger points in the cuff muscles and shoulder blade control strongly shape pain and function.
What routine testing is looking for
- Full thickness tears needing repair
- Fractures or dislocation
- Frozen shoulder
- Arthritis
What often keeps symptoms going
- Infraspinatus and supraspinatus trigger points
- Subscapularis tension limiting rotation
- Shoulder blade muscles out of rhythm
- Neck involvement
- Sleep position and overhead habits
These are found with hands-on and movement testing.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Pain reaching overhead
Pain lifting the arm above shoulder height.
Night pain
Pain lying on the affected shoulder.
Weakness lifting
Difficulty lifting the arm or carrying things away from the body.
Pain reaching behind
Pain reaching behind your back.
Aching down the outer arm
Pain spreading down the side of the upper arm.
Clicking or catching
Sensations with certain movements.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Tendon injury
Tendon irritation or tears, evaluated by your orthopedist.
Cuff trigger points
Trigger points in the cuff muscles cause deep pain and weakness.
Shoulder blade control
Shoulder blade muscles out of rhythm increase tendon load.
Guarding
Surrounding muscles tighten and limit movement.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Rotator Cuff Injuries
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your MRI or ultrasound, orthopedic notes and any surgical history.
Rotator cuff testing
Strength and provocation tests for each cuff muscle.
Muscle mapping
Assessment of the cuff and shoulder blade muscles.
Neck and posture screen
Dr. Gordon checks the neck and upper back.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Sudden inability to lift the arm after an injury
- Visible deformity or a shoulder that looks out of place
- Arm or shoulder pain with chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating
- A hot, red, swollen shoulder or fever
- Numbness or weakness spreading down the arm
- Severe pain after a fall
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for rotator cuff injuries, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases trigger points in the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis, and the shoulder blade muscles.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture to calm pain and support tendon recovery.
See all servicesBetween visits
Shoulder Plan & Team Coordination
Sleep, work and loading guidance, coordinated with your orthopedist and physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"My husband saw Dr Gordon for treatment for an issue with his neck that he was unable to get relief from after seeing many different doctors. I saw multiple doctors and physical therapists for a shoulder issue and did not have any relief until I saw Dr. Gordon. He's incredibly knowledgeable and talented at what he does."
Kathleen Sisti, Google Review
Rotator Cuff Injuries Questions
Answers About Rotator Cuff Injuries
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Many partial tears improve without surgery. Your orthopedist can advise based on the tear and your goals.
No, but it treats the trigger points and guarding that account for much of the pain and weakness.
Yes, once your surgeon clears you.
Lying on the shoulder compresses the irritated tendon, and trigger points often ache at rest.
Many people improve within six to ten sessions.
Usually you can modify rather than stop, especially overhead movements.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For rotator cuff injuries, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioFurther Reading
Focused vs Radial Shockwave: Which One Does Your Injury Need?
From the blog: which type of shockwave reaches your injury, and four questions to ask before you book.
Further Reading
Shoulder Pain That Will Not Go Away: Rotator Cuff, Trigger Points or Both?
From the blog: Shoulder pain that lingers is not always the rotator cuff tendon. How tendon problems differ from muscle trigger points, and why many people have both.
Book an Evaluation for Rotator Cuff Injuries
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and treat all four rotator cuff muscles and the shoulder blade muscles.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
Keep Reading