DR HQ: Anatomy 101—The rotator cuff, pt. 1

Though some gather rotator cuff soreness or injury in the same basket as Tommy John surgery (devastating but recoverable), research and a long look at annual disabled lists doesn’t back up the premise. Returning from a rotator cuff injury isn’t as predictable (nor successful) as a pitcher staked with recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Our look at rotator cuff (R/C in medical shorthand) injuries will be a two-part series. Today, we’ll look at the anatomy along with weakness and tendinitis of the four rotator cuff muscles. Next week we’ll look at impingement syndrome, injuries to the various muscles of the shoulder capsule that surround the rotator cuff. Not technically a part of the rotator cuff, but important in its...

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