National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Rotator Cuff Injuries is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Your rotator cuff is located in your shoulder area. It is made of muscles and tendons. It helps your shoulder to move and stay stable. Problems with the rotator cuff are common. They include tendinitis, bursitis, and injuries such as tears.
Rotator cuff tendons can become inflamed from frequent use or aging. Sometimes they are injured from a fall on an outstretched hand. Sports or jobs with repeated overhead motion can also damage the rotator cuff. Aging causes tendons to wear down, which can lead to a tear.
Some tears are not painful, but others can be very painful. Treatment for a torn rotator cuff depends on age, health, how severe the injury is, and how long you've had the torn rotator cuff.
Treatment for torn rotator cuff includes:
NIH: National Institute on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)