Rotator Cuff Injury: Addressing Overhead Overuse

Abstract

Rotator cuff injuries in sports are usually a result of microtrauma from repetitive movements. Classic, or primary, impingement results directly from overhead motions, and secondary impingement is related to underlying shoulder instability. A variety of physical maneuvers are used to assess pain, muscle weakness, and shoulder stability. The workup also includes plain x-rays, supplemented by other imaging tests if a cuff tear is suspected. Nonoperative treatment, which may include steroid injections, is often effective for an inflamed rotator cuff tendon. Surgery is indicated if the patient has no improvement after at least 6 weeks of physical therapy.

Clinical and MRI findings after high dosage medical exercise therapy in patients with long lasting subacromial pain syndrome: A case series on six patients

“…The type 3 acromial shape has an anterior hook that abruptly narrows the anterior acromiohumeral distance (Crues and Fareed, 1991). Type 3 acromion has been found to predispose for impingement syndrome and might be associated with rotator cuff tears in the ''critical zone'' (Wolin and Tarbet, 1997).…”

Development of a Proposal for a Program of Post-Rehabilitation Conditioning in a Privately-Owned Commercial Setting

“…There are generally two categories of rotator cuff injuries: traumatic and overuse (Donovan & Paulos, 1995;Ryan, 2004;Wolin & Tarbet, 1997). As stated by Wolin and Tarbet (1997), "Several different mechanisms of rotator cuff injury are presently recognized.…”

“…As stated by Wolin and Tarbet (1997), "Several different mechanisms of rotator cuff injury are presently recognized. These can be divided into acute traumatic injuries (macrotrauma) and the more common repetitive overuse injuries (microtrauma) seen in overhead activities".…”

“…Secondary impingement is of a microtraumatic mechanism, people who have shoulder instability as a result of congenital laxity, repetitive microtrauma, or macrotrauma place increased demands on the rotator cuff (Wolin & Tarbet, 1997).…”

“…Symptoms and presentation of rotator cuff injury consist of pain, weakness, and limited range of motion. The pain is likely to be anterior, superior, and lateral to the shoulder (Ryan, 2004;Wolin & Tarbet, 1997).…”