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Rotator Cuff

By Jonathan Cluett, M.D., About.com

Updated: February 24, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: The rotator cuff is the name for the tendons that surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff is actually a group of four muscles and their tendons that wraps around the front, back, and top of the shoulder joint.

The rotator cuff is often misidentified as the

    • Rotary Cuff
    • Rotary Cup
    • Rotor Cup
    • Rotator Cup
The proper name is: rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is the name given to these tendons that often become injured and inflamed causing shoulder pain.

What is a rotator cuff tear?
Unfortunately, a rotator cuff injury is not an uncommon problem, and these injuries make many routine activities difficult and painful. The rotator cuff is part of this mechanism that, when healthy functions very well, but when injured can be a difficult and frustrating problem.

The most common rotator cuff problems are:

  • Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
    Rotator cuff tendonitis, or shoulder bursitis, is the most common shoulder diagnosis. Many patients who have pain are told by their doctor they have shoulder bursitis or tendonitis. For more information about rotator cuff tendonitis...read on.

  • Rotator Cuff Tears
    A rotator cuff tear occurs when there is an injury to one or more of the tendons of the rotator cuff. In these cases, patients may have pain and weakness of the shoulder joint. Surgery is sometimes needed in the treatment of this condition. For more information about rotator cuff tears...read on.
Common Misspellings: Rotary Cuff, Rotary Cup, Rotor Cup, Rotator Cup

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Orthopedics

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  6. Rotator Cuff
  7. Rotator Cup? Rotary Cup? What do you call that shoulder problem?

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