Rehabilitation Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries in the Master Athlete

Curr Sports Med Rep. 2019 Sep;18(9):330-337. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000628.

Abstract

Rotator cuff (RTC) injuries are common in master athletes, especially overhead athletes. Risk factors include aging and degeneration as nonmodifiable and volume of activity, muscle weakness, and loss of motion as modifiable. The clinical presentation involves limited range of motion (ROM), pain at rest and at night. Injury classification into traumatic versus nontraumatic and tendinopathy, partial or full-thickness tears helps to establish a treatment plan. RTC injury rehabilitation protocols are criteria-based, multimodal, and divided into four phases. The acute phase addresses pain, inflammation, ROM, and RTC protection. The recovery phase addresses kinetic chain abnormalities, flexibility, and strength, and the functional phase involves exercises directed toward specific sport activities. Return to sports is based on clinical recovery, kinetic chain principles, and adequate sports technique. Nonsurgical management is recommended in most cases, and surgical management is considered if symptoms progress, especially for full-thickness tears.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Athletes
  • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Athletic Injuries / rehabilitation*
  • Humans
  • Pain Management
  • Return to Sport
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries / rehabilitation*