Clinical Biomechanics of Rotator Cuff Tears

Rotator cuff tears

Rotator cuff tears are one of the leading causes of shoulder pain and disability. A rotator cuff tear involves the tearing of one or more tendons of the rotator cuff muscles, namely supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. (1) Rotator cuff tears may be classified by the specific muscle(s) affected and the size of the tear (partial or full). (1,2) Rotator cuff tears may be caused by repetitive microtraumas, degenerative changes with age, or as a result of a traumatic event. (2)