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]Parvizi D, Sahafi R, Pisarski T, et al. Risk factors, incidence, and management of re-Injury following repair of shoulder rotator cuff. J Orthop Sports Med. 2025;7(1):179-185.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12040340
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40303933?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Tashjian RZ. Epidemiology, natural history, and indications for treatment of rotator cuff tears. Clin Sports Med. 2012 Oct;31(4):589-604.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23040548?tool=bestpractice.com
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]Tashjian RZ. Epidemiology, natural history, and indications for treatment of rotator cuff tears. Clin Sports Med. 2012 Oct;31(4):589-604.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23040548?tool=bestpractice.com
[6]Grusky AZ, Giri A, O'Hanlon D, et al. The relationship of aging and smoking with rotator cuff disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Apr 1;101(4):331-40.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34121068?tool=bestpractice.com
[7]Grusky AZ, Song A, Kim P, et al. Factors associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears: the rotator cuff outcomes workgroup cohort study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Apr 1;100(4):331-6.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969413
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33443862?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Zhao J, Luo M, Liang G, et al. What factors are associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2022 Jan 1;480(1):96-105.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8673964
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34424222?tool=bestpractice.com
One systematic review found that prevalence of rotator cuff abnormalities ranged from 9.7% in patients ages 20 years and younger to 62% in patients ages 80 years and older. The authors concluded that rotator cuff tears are a common feature of normal aging and are commonly asymptomatic.[9]Teunis T, Lubberts B, Reilly BT, et al. A systematic review and pooled analysis of the prevalence of rotator cuff disease with increasing age. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Dec;23(12):1913-21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25441568?tool=bestpractice.com