Rotator Cuff Tear

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint made up of the scapula (shoulder blade), clavicle (collarbone), and humerus (upper arm bone). The scapula forms the socket while the head of the humerus forms the ball, enabling full range of motion for the arm. A group of four tendons and muscles called the rotator cuff maintain stability of the shoulder joint, preventing the humerus from sliding out of the socket bone (dislocation).  The rotator cuff attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade and helps to lift and rotate your arm.

Rotator cuff tears can occur suddenly or gradually.  When the rotator cuff is torn, pain, weakness and altered range of motion can result.