Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does It Feel Like?Can It Heal on Its Own?What Happens If It Goes Untreated?Nonsurgical TreatmentsSurgeryRecoveryCauses and Risk FactorsReducing RiskDiagnosis and TestsWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Does It Feel Like?
Can It Heal on Its Own?
What Happens If It Goes Untreated?
Nonsurgical Treatments
Surgery
Recovery
Causes and Risk Factors
Reducing Risk
Diagnosis and Tests
When to See a Healthcare Provider
What Does a Torn Rotator Cuff Feel Like?
Not every rotator cuff tear causes pain. About 2 out of 3 people with a partial rotator cuff tear areasymptomaticand may not even know they have a rotator cuff injury. Only one-third of tears cause pain or other symptoms.
If a rotator cuff tear does cause warning signs, they will include:
Yes, a rotator cuff tear can heal on its own. With proper treatment, partial tears, also known as partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs), can heal in a few weeks to several months.
More severe tears may require surgery. The initial healing after surgery lasts about three to six months, but a full recovery could take up to a year. On average, about 50% of functional recovery can be expected three months afterarthroscopic surgeryto repair a torn rotator cuff.
If it goes untreated, a smaller rotator cuff tear can grow larger, causing symptoms like:
Over time, an untreated tear could lead to permanent damage and loss of function, making almost any arm movements involving the affected shoulder practically impossible.
Below is a list ofnonsurgical treatments for a torn rotator cuff:
Severe Injuries May Require Surgery
Severe rotator cuff injuries, such as full-thickness tears, often require surgery because thesupraspinatus tendon(or one of the other rotator cuff tendons) becomes detached from the humerus (upper arm bone) bone’s head and can’t heal itself without surgical help. The supraspinatus tendon is the most common to tear, but any of the four tendons may tear. If rotator cuff muscles and tendons are severely damaged, surgery is typically needed to promote tendon-to-bone healing and restore optimal shoulder function.
Approximately 40% of all rotator cuff tears are classified as “massive rotator cuff tears” that may require surgery.However, there are some situations in which surgery is not recommended for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear, especially in older patients, whose muscle may be weaker due to age.
What to Expect from Surgery and Recovery Time
After rotator cuff surgery, the healing process typically follows a predictable timeline. In the first few weeks, you can expect to wear ashoulder slingthat limits rotator cuff movement. At around three months, you should see improvements in your ability to perform daily tasks involving the shoulder joint, but full recovery can take up to 12 months.
It’s important to avoid heavy lifting or overhead movements until a healthcare provider or physical therapist gives you the green light. Doing too much too soon slows recovery time. Adhering to your post-op rehabilitation plan and having patience are essential parts of a successful healing process.
Various lifestyle choices, workplace conditions, sports activities, and inevitable factors like aging are associated with an increased risk of rotator cuff tears, including the following:
Can You Reduce Your Risk?
Preventing a rotator cuff tear isn’t always possible, especially if aging or genetics cause it. However, there are several measures you can take to reduce your risk, such as:
Rotator cuff tears are diagnosed with a physical exam and imaging tests such asX-rays,ultrasound, ormagnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI). These two simple tests may be performed during a clinical examination that you can also do at home with the help of a friend:
If you have shoulder pain that doesn’t improve after a few days of rest, it’s probably time to see a healthcare provider. Pay attention to warning signs like sharp pain during daily tasks such as reaching for something on a high shelf, putting on a coat, or grabbing your seat belt.
Also, if shoulder pain worsens at night or you cannot lift your arm without discomfort, don’t put off getting it checked out. If treatment is delayed, smaller rotator cuff tears can become larger and harder to heal.
Summary
A rotator cuff tear happens when one of the tendons in your shoulder gets hurt. Warning signs include shoulder pain and trouble lifting your arm or reaching overhead. Healing can take time. Small tears usually get better with nonsurgical treatments, but bigger ones may require surgery. Avoid heavy lifting and other arm movements that might aggravate the tear to help it heal properly.
28 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ko SH, Na SC, Kim MS.Risk factors of tear progression in symptomatic small to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tear: relationship between occupation ratio of supraspinatus and work level.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2023;32(3):565-572. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2022.09.012American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator Cuff Tears.Meng C, Jiang B, Liu M, et al.Repair of rotator cuff tears in patients aged 75 years and older: Does it make sense? A systematic review.Front Public Health. 2023;10:1060700. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1060700Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Rotator cuff tear.Itoi E.Rotator cuff tear: Physical examination and conservative treatment.Journal of Orthopaedic Science. 2013;18(2):197-204. doi:10.1007/s00776-012-0345-2Minns Lowe CJ, Moser J, Barker K.Living with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear ‘bad days, bad nights’: A qualitative study.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15(1):228. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-228Kim YS, Lee HJ, Kim JH, Noh DY.When should we repair partial-thickness rotator cuff tears? Outcome comparison between immediate surgical repair versus delayed repair after 6-month period of nonsurgical treatment.Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(5):1091-1096. doi:10.1177/0363546518757425Kurowicki J, Berglund DD, Momoh E, et al.Speed of recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017;26(7):1271-1277. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2016.11.002Keener JD, Galatz LM, Teefey SA, et al.A prospective evaluation of survivorship of asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears.The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2015;97(2):89-98. doi:10.2106/jbjs.n.00099NYU Langone Health.Nonsurgical treatments for torn rotator cuff.He HB, Wang T, Wang MC, et al.Tendon‐to‐bone healing after repairing full‐thickness rotator cuff tear with a triple‐loaded single‐row method in young patients.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):305. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04184-xDi Benedetto P, Mancuso F, Tosolini L, Buttironi MM, Beltrame A, Causero A.Treatment options for massive rotator cuff tears: a narrative review.Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis. 2021;92(S3):e2021026. doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS3.11766Park JG, Cho NS, Song JH, Baek JH, Jeong HY, Rhee YG.Rotator cuff repair in patients over 75 years of age: Clinical outcome and repair integrity.Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2016;8(4):420. doi:10.4055/cios.2016.8.4.420.Eckers F, Loske S, Ek ET, Müller AM.Current understanding and new advances in the surgical management of reparable rotator cuff tears: a scoping review.JCM. 2023;12(5):1713. doi:10.3390/jcm12051713Zhao J, Luo M, Liang G, et al.What factors are associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2022;480(1):96-105. doi:10.1097/CORR.0000000000001949Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Kobayashi T, et al.The impact of faulty posture on rotator cuff tears with and without symptoms.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2015;24(3):446-452. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.07.012Longo UG, Candela V, Berton A, et al.Genetic basis of rotator cuff injury: a systematic review.BMC Med Genet. 2019;20(1):149. doi:10.1186/s12881-019-0883-yIchinose T, Shitara H, Tajika T, et al.Factors affecting the onset and progression of rotator cuff tears in the general population.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):1858. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79867-xTooth C, Gofflot A, Schwartz C, et al.Risk factors of overuse shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a systematic review.Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2020;12(5):478-487. doi:10.1177/1941738120931764Baumgarten KM, Gerlach D, Galatz LM, et al.Cigarette smoking increases the risk for rotator cuff tears.Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2010;468(6):1534-1541. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-0781-2Szabó D, Kiss G, Tékus E, et al.Therapeutic effectiveness of postural treatment on youth swimmers’ anterior shoulder pain—an interventional study.Applied Sciences. 2024;14(4):1486. doi:10.3390/app14041486Bishop JY, Santiago-Torres JE, Rimmke N, Flanigan DC.Smoking predisposes to rotator cuff pathology and shoulder dysfunction: a systematic review.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2015;31(8):1598-1605. doi:Cools AM, Johansson FR, Borms D, Maenhout A.Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach.Braz J Phys Ther. 2015;19(5):331-339. doi:10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0109Alrabaa RG, Lobao MH, Levine WN.Rotator cuff injuries in tennis players.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):734-747. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09675-3Abate M, Di Carlo L, Salini V, Schiavone C.Risk factors associated to bilateral rotator cuff tears.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(6):841-845. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.03.027Ankar P, Harjpal P.Comparative analysis of various rotator cuff stretching techniques: efficacy and recommendations for gym enthusiasts.Cureus. 2024;16(1). doi:10.7759/cureus.51785Jain NB, Wilcox RB, Katz JN, Higgins LD.Clinical examination of the rotator cuff.PM&R. 2013;5(1):45-56. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.08.019Clinker C, Smith KM, Ishikawa H, Joyce C, Tashjian RZ, Chalmers PN.Three-month delay in rotator cuff repair: 2-year follow-up.JAAOS Glob Res Rev. 2024;8(1). doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-23-00283Additional ReadingDevarasetty VVNM, Kuhn JE, Bowman EN.Public perceptions of rotator cuff tears.Clinics and Practice. 2024;14(3):729-738. doi:10.3390/clinpract14030058
28 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ko SH, Na SC, Kim MS.Risk factors of tear progression in symptomatic small to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tear: relationship between occupation ratio of supraspinatus and work level.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2023;32(3):565-572. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2022.09.012American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator Cuff Tears.Meng C, Jiang B, Liu M, et al.Repair of rotator cuff tears in patients aged 75 years and older: Does it make sense? A systematic review.Front Public Health. 2023;10:1060700. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1060700Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Rotator cuff tear.Itoi E.Rotator cuff tear: Physical examination and conservative treatment.Journal of Orthopaedic Science. 2013;18(2):197-204. doi:10.1007/s00776-012-0345-2Minns Lowe CJ, Moser J, Barker K.Living with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear ‘bad days, bad nights’: A qualitative study.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15(1):228. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-228Kim YS, Lee HJ, Kim JH, Noh DY.When should we repair partial-thickness rotator cuff tears? Outcome comparison between immediate surgical repair versus delayed repair after 6-month period of nonsurgical treatment.Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(5):1091-1096. doi:10.1177/0363546518757425Kurowicki J, Berglund DD, Momoh E, et al.Speed of recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017;26(7):1271-1277. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2016.11.002Keener JD, Galatz LM, Teefey SA, et al.A prospective evaluation of survivorship of asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears.The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2015;97(2):89-98. doi:10.2106/jbjs.n.00099NYU Langone Health.Nonsurgical treatments for torn rotator cuff.He HB, Wang T, Wang MC, et al.Tendon‐to‐bone healing after repairing full‐thickness rotator cuff tear with a triple‐loaded single‐row method in young patients.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):305. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04184-xDi Benedetto P, Mancuso F, Tosolini L, Buttironi MM, Beltrame A, Causero A.Treatment options for massive rotator cuff tears: a narrative review.Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis. 2021;92(S3):e2021026. doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS3.11766Park JG, Cho NS, Song JH, Baek JH, Jeong HY, Rhee YG.Rotator cuff repair in patients over 75 years of age: Clinical outcome and repair integrity.Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2016;8(4):420. doi:10.4055/cios.2016.8.4.420.Eckers F, Loske S, Ek ET, Müller AM.Current understanding and new advances in the surgical management of reparable rotator cuff tears: a scoping review.JCM. 2023;12(5):1713. doi:10.3390/jcm12051713Zhao J, Luo M, Liang G, et al.What factors are associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2022;480(1):96-105. doi:10.1097/CORR.0000000000001949Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Kobayashi T, et al.The impact of faulty posture on rotator cuff tears with and without symptoms.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2015;24(3):446-452. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.07.012Longo UG, Candela V, Berton A, et al.Genetic basis of rotator cuff injury: a systematic review.BMC Med Genet. 2019;20(1):149. doi:10.1186/s12881-019-0883-yIchinose T, Shitara H, Tajika T, et al.Factors affecting the onset and progression of rotator cuff tears in the general population.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):1858. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79867-xTooth C, Gofflot A, Schwartz C, et al.Risk factors of overuse shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a systematic review.Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2020;12(5):478-487. doi:10.1177/1941738120931764Baumgarten KM, Gerlach D, Galatz LM, et al.Cigarette smoking increases the risk for rotator cuff tears.Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2010;468(6):1534-1541. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-0781-2Szabó D, Kiss G, Tékus E, et al.Therapeutic effectiveness of postural treatment on youth swimmers’ anterior shoulder pain—an interventional study.Applied Sciences. 2024;14(4):1486. doi:10.3390/app14041486Bishop JY, Santiago-Torres JE, Rimmke N, Flanigan DC.Smoking predisposes to rotator cuff pathology and shoulder dysfunction: a systematic review.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2015;31(8):1598-1605. doi:Cools AM, Johansson FR, Borms D, Maenhout A.Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach.Braz J Phys Ther. 2015;19(5):331-339. doi:10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0109Alrabaa RG, Lobao MH, Levine WN.Rotator cuff injuries in tennis players.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):734-747. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09675-3Abate M, Di Carlo L, Salini V, Schiavone C.Risk factors associated to bilateral rotator cuff tears.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(6):841-845. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.03.027Ankar P, Harjpal P.Comparative analysis of various rotator cuff stretching techniques: efficacy and recommendations for gym enthusiasts.Cureus. 2024;16(1). doi:10.7759/cureus.51785Jain NB, Wilcox RB, Katz JN, Higgins LD.Clinical examination of the rotator cuff.PM&R. 2013;5(1):45-56. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.08.019Clinker C, Smith KM, Ishikawa H, Joyce C, Tashjian RZ, Chalmers PN.Three-month delay in rotator cuff repair: 2-year follow-up.JAAOS Glob Res Rev. 2024;8(1). doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-23-00283Additional ReadingDevarasetty VVNM, Kuhn JE, Bowman EN.Public perceptions of rotator cuff tears.Clinics and Practice. 2024;14(3):729-738. doi:10.3390/clinpract14030058
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ko SH, Na SC, Kim MS.Risk factors of tear progression in symptomatic small to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tear: relationship between occupation ratio of supraspinatus and work level.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2023;32(3):565-572. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2022.09.012American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator Cuff Tears.Meng C, Jiang B, Liu M, et al.Repair of rotator cuff tears in patients aged 75 years and older: Does it make sense? A systematic review.Front Public Health. 2023;10:1060700. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1060700Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Rotator cuff tear.Itoi E.Rotator cuff tear: Physical examination and conservative treatment.Journal of Orthopaedic Science. 2013;18(2):197-204. doi:10.1007/s00776-012-0345-2Minns Lowe CJ, Moser J, Barker K.Living with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear ‘bad days, bad nights’: A qualitative study.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15(1):228. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-228Kim YS, Lee HJ, Kim JH, Noh DY.When should we repair partial-thickness rotator cuff tears? Outcome comparison between immediate surgical repair versus delayed repair after 6-month period of nonsurgical treatment.Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(5):1091-1096. doi:10.1177/0363546518757425Kurowicki J, Berglund DD, Momoh E, et al.Speed of recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017;26(7):1271-1277. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2016.11.002Keener JD, Galatz LM, Teefey SA, et al.A prospective evaluation of survivorship of asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears.The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2015;97(2):89-98. doi:10.2106/jbjs.n.00099NYU Langone Health.Nonsurgical treatments for torn rotator cuff.He HB, Wang T, Wang MC, et al.Tendon‐to‐bone healing after repairing full‐thickness rotator cuff tear with a triple‐loaded single‐row method in young patients.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):305. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04184-xDi Benedetto P, Mancuso F, Tosolini L, Buttironi MM, Beltrame A, Causero A.Treatment options for massive rotator cuff tears: a narrative review.Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis. 2021;92(S3):e2021026. doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS3.11766Park JG, Cho NS, Song JH, Baek JH, Jeong HY, Rhee YG.Rotator cuff repair in patients over 75 years of age: Clinical outcome and repair integrity.Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2016;8(4):420. doi:10.4055/cios.2016.8.4.420.Eckers F, Loske S, Ek ET, Müller AM.Current understanding and new advances in the surgical management of reparable rotator cuff tears: a scoping review.JCM. 2023;12(5):1713. doi:10.3390/jcm12051713Zhao J, Luo M, Liang G, et al.What factors are associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2022;480(1):96-105. doi:10.1097/CORR.0000000000001949Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Kobayashi T, et al.The impact of faulty posture on rotator cuff tears with and without symptoms.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2015;24(3):446-452. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.07.012Longo UG, Candela V, Berton A, et al.Genetic basis of rotator cuff injury: a systematic review.BMC Med Genet. 2019;20(1):149. doi:10.1186/s12881-019-0883-yIchinose T, Shitara H, Tajika T, et al.Factors affecting the onset and progression of rotator cuff tears in the general population.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):1858. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79867-xTooth C, Gofflot A, Schwartz C, et al.Risk factors of overuse shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a systematic review.Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2020;12(5):478-487. doi:10.1177/1941738120931764Baumgarten KM, Gerlach D, Galatz LM, et al.Cigarette smoking increases the risk for rotator cuff tears.Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2010;468(6):1534-1541. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-0781-2Szabó D, Kiss G, Tékus E, et al.Therapeutic effectiveness of postural treatment on youth swimmers’ anterior shoulder pain—an interventional study.Applied Sciences. 2024;14(4):1486. doi:10.3390/app14041486Bishop JY, Santiago-Torres JE, Rimmke N, Flanigan DC.Smoking predisposes to rotator cuff pathology and shoulder dysfunction: a systematic review.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2015;31(8):1598-1605. doi:Cools AM, Johansson FR, Borms D, Maenhout A.Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach.Braz J Phys Ther. 2015;19(5):331-339. doi:10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0109Alrabaa RG, Lobao MH, Levine WN.Rotator cuff injuries in tennis players.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):734-747. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09675-3Abate M, Di Carlo L, Salini V, Schiavone C.Risk factors associated to bilateral rotator cuff tears.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(6):841-845. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.03.027Ankar P, Harjpal P.Comparative analysis of various rotator cuff stretching techniques: efficacy and recommendations for gym enthusiasts.Cureus. 2024;16(1). doi:10.7759/cureus.51785Jain NB, Wilcox RB, Katz JN, Higgins LD.Clinical examination of the rotator cuff.PM&R. 2013;5(1):45-56. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.08.019Clinker C, Smith KM, Ishikawa H, Joyce C, Tashjian RZ, Chalmers PN.Three-month delay in rotator cuff repair: 2-year follow-up.JAAOS Glob Res Rev. 2024;8(1). doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-23-00283
Ko SH, Na SC, Kim MS.Risk factors of tear progression in symptomatic small to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tear: relationship between occupation ratio of supraspinatus and work level.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2023;32(3):565-572. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2022.09.012
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator Cuff Tears.
Meng C, Jiang B, Liu M, et al.Repair of rotator cuff tears in patients aged 75 years and older: Does it make sense? A systematic review.Front Public Health. 2023;10:1060700. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1060700
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Rotator cuff tear.
Itoi E.Rotator cuff tear: Physical examination and conservative treatment.Journal of Orthopaedic Science. 2013;18(2):197-204. doi:10.1007/s00776-012-0345-2
Minns Lowe CJ, Moser J, Barker K.Living with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear ‘bad days, bad nights’: A qualitative study.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15(1):228. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-228
Kim YS, Lee HJ, Kim JH, Noh DY.When should we repair partial-thickness rotator cuff tears? Outcome comparison between immediate surgical repair versus delayed repair after 6-month period of nonsurgical treatment.Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(5):1091-1096. doi:10.1177/0363546518757425
Kurowicki J, Berglund DD, Momoh E, et al.Speed of recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017;26(7):1271-1277. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2016.11.002
Keener JD, Galatz LM, Teefey SA, et al.A prospective evaluation of survivorship of asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears.The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2015;97(2):89-98. doi:10.2106/jbjs.n.00099
NYU Langone Health.Nonsurgical treatments for torn rotator cuff.
He HB, Wang T, Wang MC, et al.Tendon‐to‐bone healing after repairing full‐thickness rotator cuff tear with a triple‐loaded single‐row method in young patients.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):305. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04184-x
Di Benedetto P, Mancuso F, Tosolini L, Buttironi MM, Beltrame A, Causero A.Treatment options for massive rotator cuff tears: a narrative review.Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis. 2021;92(S3):e2021026. doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS3.11766
Park JG, Cho NS, Song JH, Baek JH, Jeong HY, Rhee YG.Rotator cuff repair in patients over 75 years of age: Clinical outcome and repair integrity.Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2016;8(4):420. doi:10.4055/cios.2016.8.4.420.
Eckers F, Loske S, Ek ET, Müller AM.Current understanding and new advances in the surgical management of reparable rotator cuff tears: a scoping review.JCM. 2023;12(5):1713. doi:10.3390/jcm12051713
Zhao J, Luo M, Liang G, et al.What factors are associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2022;480(1):96-105. doi:10.1097/CORR.0000000000001949
Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Kobayashi T, et al.The impact of faulty posture on rotator cuff tears with and without symptoms.Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2015;24(3):446-452. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.07.012
Longo UG, Candela V, Berton A, et al.Genetic basis of rotator cuff injury: a systematic review.BMC Med Genet. 2019;20(1):149. doi:10.1186/s12881-019-0883-y
Ichinose T, Shitara H, Tajika T, et al.Factors affecting the onset and progression of rotator cuff tears in the general population.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):1858. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79867-x
Tooth C, Gofflot A, Schwartz C, et al.Risk factors of overuse shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a systematic review.Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2020;12(5):478-487. doi:10.1177/1941738120931764
Baumgarten KM, Gerlach D, Galatz LM, et al.Cigarette smoking increases the risk for rotator cuff tears.Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2010;468(6):1534-1541. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-0781-2
Szabó D, Kiss G, Tékus E, et al.Therapeutic effectiveness of postural treatment on youth swimmers’ anterior shoulder pain—an interventional study.Applied Sciences. 2024;14(4):1486. doi:10.3390/app14041486
Bishop JY, Santiago-Torres JE, Rimmke N, Flanigan DC.Smoking predisposes to rotator cuff pathology and shoulder dysfunction: a systematic review.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2015;31(8):1598-1605. doi:
Cools AM, Johansson FR, Borms D, Maenhout A.Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach.Braz J Phys Ther. 2015;19(5):331-339. doi:10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0109
Alrabaa RG, Lobao MH, Levine WN.Rotator cuff injuries in tennis players.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):734-747. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09675-3
Abate M, Di Carlo L, Salini V, Schiavone C.Risk factors associated to bilateral rotator cuff tears.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(6):841-845. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.03.027
Ankar P, Harjpal P.Comparative analysis of various rotator cuff stretching techniques: efficacy and recommendations for gym enthusiasts.Cureus. 2024;16(1). doi:10.7759/cureus.51785
Jain NB, Wilcox RB, Katz JN, Higgins LD.Clinical examination of the rotator cuff.PM&R. 2013;5(1):45-56. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.08.019
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