Tear Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff is comprised of the muscles and tendons that surround the top of the upper arm bone. They hold it in the shoulder joint. A sudden tear may result from a single traumatic event or a series of gradual, repetitive overhead activities. A partial tear may cause pain when the arm is lifted in a certain arc away from the body (painful arc syndrome); and a complete tear may limit the ability to raise the arm.