Rotator Cuff Tear: Structure, Symptoms, Treatment, Recovery Timeline, and Work Injury Compensation
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. We can reach, lift, rotate, and throw in almost every direction thanks to its wide range of motion. However, this freedom comes with a weakness— the rotator cuff , a group of four small yet essential tendons that stabilize the shoulder, is highly vulnerable to injury. In this guide, you’ll learn: The structure and function of the rotator cuff Why the shoulder is more fragile than the hip Key symptoms of rotator cuff tears Partial vs. full-thickness tears Treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation timeline Whether disability can remain after surgery How U.S. workers’ compensation and insurance evaluate shoulder injuries A real-world work-related injury case Rotator cuff tendons stabilizing the humeral head 1. What Is the Rotator Cuff and What Does It Do? The rotator cuff is made of four muscles and their tendons: Supraspinatus Infraspinatus Teres minor Subscapularis These tendons su...