Torn rotator cuff? Check family history

If you’ve experienced a torn rotator cuff, you may be able to blame your family history for part of the painful shoulder injury.

The rotator cuff is a vital part of your shoulder’s make up. It consists of tendons and muscles (four of them). These muscles cover the top of your upper arm bone, called the humerus. This network of muscles and tendons is what protects the joint and allows you to rotate your arm at the shoulder. When a tear develops, this is what is called a torn rotator cuff.

You can have a small tear or you can have major damage. How your shoulder is treated and heals depends on what caused the injury and how severe the injury is.

We most frequently hear of athletes, particularly baseball players, tearing their rotator cuff. This is due to the wear and tear they place on their shoulders with the strong, sudden, sharp movements they make to throw the ball as far and hard as they can. But, rotator cuffs may be torn doing other things. In my case, I tore mine by chipping away at stucco, using a chisel and mallet, for several weeks – a bit every day.

Athletes in other sports aren’t immune either. Popular tennis great, Maria Sharapova , had to pull out of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and miss some important tennis matches because of a torn rotator cuff.

Now, researchers have found that some people may be predisposed to rotator cuff injuries because of their family history. According to a study that was published in May 2009 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS ) , “researchers found an increased risk for these tears in family members of patients with rotator cuff tears. The risk extends out and beyond third-cousin relationships (Third cousins are the great-great-grandchildren of one’s great-great-grandparents.)”

This finding could be good news for those who do injure their shoulder. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons issues a press release about the study, in which they wrote:

The results of this research have potential long term implications, including:

• Prevention
• Knowing about a family history of rotator cuff disease can alert patients to take some precautionary measures to protect against their own injuries
• Orthopaedic surgeons can initiate a shoulder stretching and strengthening program for patients to help limit the effects of possible future rotator cuff problems

While an exercise program would not completely prevent development of rotator cuff disease, it may limit the negative impact on shoulder function.

The research results can also lead to future treatment options. “Rotator cuff healing is often incomplete and identifying a possible genetic link to the disease may provide targets for biologic treatments to improve the healing rates,” noted Dr. Tashjian.

Treatment may range from stabilizing and not using your shoulder to surgical repair.

Have you torn a rotator cuff? How severely? How is your shoulder now?

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