Rotator Cuff Injuries

September 28, 2015

Dr. Tim Kremchek has served as the team physician for the Cincinnati Reds for the last 15 years, and has earned his place as a top MLB surgeon. During that time, he has seen a lot of shoulder pain. In his opinion, most shoulder pain is related to the rotator cuff. Not every injury is a torn rotator cuff, but there is often bursitis, inflammation, or tendonitis. Rotator cuff injuries can often be dealt with using physical therapy versus surgery.

The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles that all contract to hold the shoulder in position. They all four work together to allow the shoulder to move forward, backward, and sideways. Rotator cuff injuries result in pain during athletic activities, but also during day-to-day activities like sleeping, picking up a child, or simply unloading the dishwasher. A rotator cuff tear usually does not heal on its own with a non-operative approach.

Doctor Kremchek has been using an arthroscopic approach to fix rotator cuff injuries since 1996. Over the past nine years, he has performed over three thousand arthroscopic shoulder procedures on the rotator cuff. With his leading knowledge and experience, Dr. Kremchek has been teaching proper arthroscopic procedures to other doctors for years.

Watch the video to learn about Rotator Cuff injuries and possible treatments to relieve pain and recover functionality.