Torn Rotator Cuff

Torn rotator cuff may or may not be relevant in terms of the experience of pain. Minor tears and fraying in the supraspinatus tendon, unless there was an acute injury, are likely due to trigger points/taut fibers in the rotator cuff muscles. The trigger points are responsible for reduced joint spacing beneath the acromion, which can then lead to tearing or fraying. They are also responsible for the pain experienced, consequently our approach for relatively mild rotator cuff tears (if a tear has even been verified with imaging) is to do the muscular work, which generally has very positive results.

More severe tears of 50% or more are more likely to be due to injury, and may require surgical repair to ensure the stabiity of the rotator cuff. The CTB approach is still indicated, but without strong supraspinatus stretching prior to the surgery and recovery.

Updated on: 10/06/2024