How do rotator cuff tears occur?
Tears in the rotator cuff musculature occur in two broad categories. The first group are tears that happen after a traumatic event, such as a fall, or after repetitive overhead throwing, which results in chronic microtearing of the cuff over time. The second group are tears of attrition, which we are learning are a result of aging and the poor blood supply within certain areas in the rotator cuff.
