Rotator Cuff

A rotator cuff is the medical term which describes the group of muscles and its tendons which provide stability to the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff connect to the humerus and scapula. The other two muscles that connect to the humerus and scapula are the deltoid and the teres major. Together, the four muscles of the rotator cuff and the deltoid and teres major compose the six scapulohumeral muscles of every human being.

The rotator muscles begin at the scapula and connect to the head of the humerus and form the cuff at the joint of the shoulder.   Rotator cuff muscles are very important because they support the head of the humerus in the small and shallow area of the scapula called the glenoid fossa.  The glenohumeral joint is compared to a goldf ball which is resting on a golf tee. When the arm is raised, the rotator cuff puts pressure on the glenohumeral joint which allows the big deltoid muscle to raise the arm further.  If a person did not have a rotator cuff, the humeral head would ride up a little out of the glenoid fossa, which would decrease the effectiveness of the detoid muscle.

Some doctors have different views about the importance of the rotator cuff. The doctors who don’t think the rotator cuff is that important beleive that the m. biceps brachii is the major factor is holding the bones together.  Attorney Justin Ziegler has represented injured accident victims who’ve torn their rotator cuffs in car accidents. We currently represent many clients who have rotator cuff injuries.