Introduction: Rotator CuffA rotator cuff is simply a group of four tendons and muscles located directly on the shoulder and above the humerus. (Source 1) The rotator cuff is what controls the shoulder and allows it to move and be mobile. The four main muscles that make up the tendons are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis muscles. (Source 2). Excessive wear and tear on these muscles (like too many fastballs thrown) is precisely what causes the rotator cuff to tear, along with swelling of the tendons.Rotator cuff tears are generally classified as a chronic injury because they require repetitive wear and tear on the muscles to ultimately inflict pain on the body. Chronic injuries simply occur when pain gradually persists over a long period of time. On the contrary, acute pain is when something happens suddenly and the pain is much more acute than the dull, lasting pain of a chronic injury. (Source 3) In sports, the number one reason an athlete tears or injures their rotator cuff is not because something bad happened instantly, like a fracture or pulled muscle, but because he continued to put pressure on these muscles for some time. period in time. Pain signals will remain active in the nervous system for several months. (Source 3) Usually this happens when some activities they perform are performed incorrectly or harmfully. An example of this would be lifting weights that are too heavy or not using proper technique. When comparing rotator cuff tears in regular people and athletes, they are much more common when a person is physically active in sports. A rotator injury...... middle of paper ......b. May 2, 2014.Source 8-"Knee (human anatomy): images, function, ligaments, muscles." WebMD. WebMD and Web. May 1, 2014.Source 5-“Mechanisms of shoulder injuries”. Mechanisms-Rotator cuff. Np, and Web. May 2, 2014. Source 2: “Physical Therapy at White Sands in Sarasota for Shoulder.” » Rotator Cuff Pain Relief with Water Therapy Treatment in Sarasota, Florida. Np, and Web. May 2, 2014. Source 1: “Rotator cuff (human anatomy): image, function, location. » WebMD. WebMD and Web. May 2, 2014. Source 4: “Rotator cuff injury.” Risk factors. Np, and Web. May 2, 2014. Source 7: “Rotator Cuff Surgery Overview, Risks and Recovery.” » WebMD. WebMD, January 3, 0000. Web. May 2, 2014. Source 6: “Rotator cuff tears-OrthoInfo - AAOS”. Rotator Cuff Tears-OrthoInfo - AAOS. Np, and Web. May 1, 2014.***Source number is in order of use.