Epidemiology

Rotator cuff injury is among the most common musculoskeletal injury worldwide, affecting between 6.8% and 22.4% of people over the age of 40 years.[4][5]

Multiple studies have illustrated the direct correlation between incidence of tears and increasing age. Evidence suggests that the prevalence and the severity of rotator cuff tears increase with every decade of age, to the point where up to 50% of people over the age of 80 years have rotator cuff tears.​​​​​​​[5][6][7][8]​​​​​​​​

One systematic review found that prevalence of rotator cuff abnormalities ranged from 9.7% in patients aged 20 years and younger to 62% in patients aged 80 years and older. The authors concluded that rotator cuff tears are a common feature of normal ageing and are commonly asymptomatic.[9]

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