How Does Rotator Cuff Tear Occur ?
The rotator cuff is not always torn by athletic activity, as one may assume. There are several mechanisms, which can lead to a torn rotator cuff, even in a person with a sedentary lifestyle. The tearing of the rotator cuff occurs slowly over a period of time rather than by a single traumatic event. However, a single large trauma to an already weak muscle can also cause a tear. The entrapment of the rotator cuff in a narrow coraco-acromial arch leads to progressive injury of the supraspinatus muscle, which forms the upper part of the rotator cuff. The narrow coraco-acromial arch can be due to a hooked acromion process. In elderly, a formation of a bony spur on the acromion can result in friction between the spur and supraspinatus muscle resulting in the muscle tear. In sport, a single or repeating rotator cuff injury, usually affecting subscapularis muscle, mostly occurs during overhead throwing. Picture 4: Rotator cuff tear in right shoulder, front view (source: Chiro Org Images) The a
