Four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) providing shoulder stability
Expansion
Rotator Cuff
Purpose
Assess for tear, tendinopathy, impingement
Clinical Context
Rotator cuff tears: partial or full-thickness. Rotator cuff tears increase with age (greater than 50). Impingement syndrome precedes tears. Magnetic resonance imaging best for soft tissue.
Related Terms
- Shoulder imaging
- Subacromial pain
Key Points
- Rotator cuff tear common; full-thickness tears visible on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging; partial tears often symptomatic