Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries in the Elite Athlete

Rotator cuff injuries are a common cause of pain and dysfunction for the elite athlete and can result in time loss from participation. This review highlights the current management of these injuries.

Conservative management of rotator cuff injuries continues to be the "gold standard" in the elite athlete. This includes a comprehensive rehabilitation program, anti-inflammatories, and corticosteroid injections. Newer treatment techniques such as intramuscular dry needling and the use of biologics such as platelet-rich plasma and stem cells demonstrate early promising results; however, these modalities require further investigation to determine their effectiveness. Rotator cuff injuries can range from contusions and tendinopathy to full-thickness tears. A comprehensive evaluation is needed to determine the extent of injury and appropriate plan of care. Management strategies can range from rehabilitation to operative intervention and are guided by the size of the tear, time of season, sport, performance limitations, and presence of concomitant pathology.