What Causes Rotator Cuff Tear Retraction?
Rotator Cuff Anatomy The rotator cuff is a group of four distinct muscles whose main function is to stabilize and provide support for the shoulder. The muscles of the rotator cuff are the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the subscapularis, and the teres minor. The muscles and the tendons which attach them to the humerus (the long bone in your upper arm) can be injured if there is a muscle imbalance, fatigue trauma or chronic impingement of the shoulder. Because of the unique shoulder anatomy, a rotator cuff tear almost always occurs in the supraspinatus muscle-rarely are the other muscles completely torn. Rotator Cuff Injury There are different causes of rotator cuff injury, but complete tears are most often seen in people with a long history of shoulder problems. Additionally, it is uncommon to see a complete rotator cuff tear in someone under the age of 40. The primary cause of a full-thickness tear is acute trauma such as a fall, or chronic shoulder impingement where the supraspina
