Rotator Cuff Injury

This is a simple definition of Rotator Cuff injury. Always refer to your physician for clarification of your condition.

Rotator cuff injury, is also commonly referred to as swimmer's shoulder, pitcher's shoulder, and tennis shoulder. As these names imply, the injury occurs, most frequently, with sports like pitching, swimming, weight lifting and tennis that all require the arm to be moved over the head repeatedly. Rotator cuff tendonitis is an inflammation of the shoulder tendons while a rotator cuff tear is a ripping of one or more of the tendons.
The rotator cuff is made up by the tendons of four muscles . These muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. The tendons attach the muscles to four shoulder bones: the shoulder blade (scapula), the upper arm bone (humerus), and the collarbone (clavicle.) The rotator cuff tendons can also degenerate due to age, usually starting around age 40. Rotator cuff injury may also be caused by falling on the outstretched arm or joint of the elbow. Either of these may produce enough force to drive the humerus into the shoulder socket.