Could Your Shoulder Pain be a Rotator Cuff Tear?

Free series at Eastern Mountain Sports features Memorial Hospital Orthopedists

The rotator cuff is one of the most important components of the shoulder, and its injury is a common cause of pain and disability among adults. The rotator cuff muscles enable people to lift their arms and reach overhead. On Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m., join Memorial Hospital orthopedic surgeon Lisa Khoury, MD for a free presentation, Diagnosing and Treating Rotator Cuff Tears at Eastern Mountain Sports, located Settlers Crossing. Dr. Khoury will speak on acute and chronic rotator cuff tears.According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, more than 5 million physician visits were attributed to rotator cuff problems between 1998 and 2004. Research has indicated that the incidence of rotator cuff damage increases with age due to tendon degeneration. The rotator cuff can be torn from a single traumatic injury or as the result of overuse of these muscles and tendons over a period of years. People who are especially at risk for overuse are those who engage in repetitive overhead motions either playing sports such as baseball, tennis, weight lifting, and rowing or working in jobs that require a significant amount of overhead activity. This is the last of a three-part series hosted by Eastern Mountain Sports and featuring Memorial Hospitals orthopedists, Dr. Lisa Khoury and Dr. Douglas Taylor, on topics related to musculoskeletal injuries and prevention. The program begins at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. No pre-registration required. For more information, call Memorial Hospitals community relations office, 356-5461, Ext. 388.