When you think about all the tasks we ask our shoulders to do on a daily basis, it is no wonder that rotator cuff injuries are so common.

The rotator cuff is made up of the four large muscles of the shoulder and the associated tendons. This group of muscles and tendon work together to keep the shoulder securely in place and allow the shoulder joint to have the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body.

Think of all the task you do on a daily basis that require the use of one or more of your shoulder joints. We lift and carry anything from groceries to grandchildren with the help of our shoulders. We work on our lawns and in our jobs placing a heavy task on the muscles of the rotator cuff.

While all of us can experience rotator cuff injury, there are certain occupations that have a higher degree of risk than others.

Athletes, and especially baseball pitchers, place great strain on their shoulder joints. Repetitive motions such as pitching or swinging a tennis racket can cause great stress to the rotator cuff.

Many construction workers can experience strain and discomfort- even tearing- of the rotator cuff. As you get older and less flexible you become more susceptible to this type of injury. Poor posture can contribute to shoulder problems. In fact, any repetitive movements can lead to rotator cuff injury.

Rotator cuff injury can be divided into two main categories: tendinitis and tears.

Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder. This is often caused by overusing or overloading the shoulders. Resting the joint is usually called for.

A Rotator Cuff Tear can be either partial or full. The range of treatment can vary from rest to surgery and even replacement.