The more you ask, the more you hear of people having their Rotator Cuff repaired; but what is it and why is it important? The Rotator Cuff is a series of 4 small muscles and their tendons, that work inside your shoulder to control the fine motion.
Larger muscles (Deltoid, Latissimus, Trapezius, etc...) provide much of the power for the shoulder but without the Rotator Cuff, the "Ball" would not stay centered in the "Socket" and you would lose all strength. Rotator cuff tears typically occur in the tendons, not the muscles which means that they don't heal on there own. In certain patients, the pain and weakness associated with Rotator Cuff tears can be treated without surgery, others may require surgery. For more information about the Rotator Cuff, talk to Drs. Fallon, McBride or Kuchinskas, or read about it on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon's patient resource guide.
