Case Study- Rotator Cuff Injury

Objective: List the muscles of the body and understand basic muscle types.

An 11 year old boy who has played baseball (pitcher) for the last 7 years is seen by an orthopedist. The athlete complains of intense pain in the shoulder joint that worsens when his arm is raised. Sleeping on his back or stomach is painful as is any type of throwing motion. The doctor suspects an injury to the rotator cuff. Range of motion exercises performed by the doctor elicit pain when the arm is raised away from the midline.

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that function to hold the arm in its socket and to stabilize the shoulder. Four muscles merge into tendons and attach the humerus to the shoulder blade. Repetitive motions can aggravate the cuff and lead to chronic inflammation. Tears of the cuff often necessitate arthroscopic surgery. Rotator cuff injuries are common in athletes whose sport involves repetitive motions such as tennis players, golfers, and baseball players (“Rotator Cuff Injuries”, 2016).

The doctor ordered X-rays and an MRI to assess the extent of the injury (Eajazi et al. 2015). She prescribed rest, ice compresses, and the use of anti-inflammatories (Williams et al 2000). The MRI results indicate a partial tear. The plan is to rest the shoulder for 6 weeks and see if the pain improves before opting for surgery. A follow-up appointment is scheduled for 6 weeks.

Rotator Cuff Injuries. (n.d.) Retrieved February 23, 2016, fromhttps://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rotatorcuffinjuries.html

Eajazi, A.,Kussman, S.,LeBedis, C.,Guermazi, A.,Kompel, A.,Jawa, A., &Murakami A.M. (2015). Rotator cuff tear arthropathy: Pathophysiology, imaging characteristics, and treatment options.AJR Am J Roentgenol.205(5), 502-511.

Williams, Jr, G.R. &Kelley, M. (2000). Management of rotator cuff and impingement injuries in the athlete. J Athl Train. 35(3), 300-315.

ASSIGNMENT

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Select one of the musculoskeletal disorders from the text and describe it to the class.

Explain how it is diagnosed, what muscles are involved, the treatment, and the prognosis.

Objective: List the muscles of the body and understand basic muscle types.