| Four muscles and a few tendons form a capsule | | | | The rotator cuff provides for forward and backward |
| around the upper part of the arm bone. This group of | | | | motion. It also provides full circular rotation and lateral |
| muscles and tendons holds the arm into the shoulder | | | | movement. |
| socket and facilitates rotation of the arm. | | | | Deterioration in the muscles and tendons is responsible |
| One of the most common injuries occurs to senior | | | | for most rotator cuff tears. This is due to age and |
| citizens. It is rotator cuff tears. The muscle that is | | | | overuse. Traumatic injury is also responsible for rotator |
| usually torn in the shoulder is the one in the front of the | | | | cuff tears. In older people with diabetes, frozen |
| arm. This is called the supraspinatus muscle. | | | | shoulder can be mistaken for rotator cuff tears. |
| Rotator cuff tears can affect a person's daily life. | | | | Deterioration is the most likely cause of rotator cuff |
| Knowing how the rotator cuff works, its makeup and | | | | tears in older people. Traumatic injury and overuse |
| what purpose it serves will help you to understand | | | | from repetitive overhead work are the most common |
| what effect it can have on your life. | | | | causes in younger people. Rotator cuff tears don't just |
| The four muscles that are in the rotator cuff are the | | | | happen from repetitive overhead work. Athletes are |
| supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the subscapularis and | | | | extremely at risk for torn rotator cuffs. |
| the teres minor. They are each attached to the arm | | | | Physical therapy is used very often in the treatment of |
| bone by a tendon. These four muscles and their | | | | rotator cuff tears and is very often successful. If |
| respective tendons form a covering for the top of the | | | | physical therapy does not do the job, then surgery |
| arm bone. This is sometimes referred to as a capsule | | | | may be performed. It is usually followed up with |
| or a cuff. | | | | physical therapy to restore the shoulder to full health. |
| The most versatile joint in the body is the shoulder. | | | | |