Rotator Cuff Research Paper

It's one of the darkest fears of pitchers, tennis players, and many other athletes: a rotator cuff tear. If it is severe, a rotator cuff tear can end a player's career. So what is it, exactly? The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and muscles that converge around the shoulder joint at the top of the humerus, the upper arm bone above the elbow. Together, they form a ''cuff'' that both holds your arm in place and allows it to move in different directions. While your shoulder is one of your most mobile joints, it's also somewhat weak. Too much stress -- or too many fastballs -- can cause partial tears and swelling in the tendons of the rotator cuff. Abrupt stress may even cause one of the tendons to pull away from the bone or tear in the
But they also can happen suddenly -- you might feel a pop, intense pain, and weakness in the arm. To diagnose a rotator cuff tear, your doctor will give you a thorough physical exam. He or she will want you to move your arm in different directions to see what causes pain. Your doctor might want to order the following tests:
X-ray of the shoulder with some special views
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Arthrogram
Arthroscopy
As bad as these injuries can be, the good news is that many rotator cuff tears heal on their own. You just need to give them a little time. You also should:
Rest the joint as much as possible. Avoid any movement or activity that hurts. You may need a sling.
Ice your shoulder two to three times a day to reduce pain and swelling.
Perform range-of-motion exercises, if your doctor recommends