Rotator cuff injury

By Mayo Clinic Staff
May 22, 2025

Research

Mayo Clinic surgeons and scientists collaborate to develop new solutions that improve rotator cuff healing, speed rehabilitation and improve the outcomes for people experiencing shoulder problems.

Avenues being explored include:

  • Advanced pain management, utilizing nerve blocks.
  • Biologic augmentation for repair procedures.
  • Innovative tendon transfers for irreparable tears.
  • Subacromial balloon spacer to help treat massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.
  • Superior capsular reconstruction.

Health care teams at the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Minnesota investigate sports injury evaluation, treatment and prevention to provide optimal treatment to those involved in sports- or fitness-related activities.

Publications

See a list of publications about rotator cuff injuries by Mayo Clinic authors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

  1. Rotator cuff injury/Subacromial bursitis. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/sports-injury/rotator-cuff-injury-subacromial-bursitis. Accessed Sept. 20, 2024.
  2. Rotator cuff tears. OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/rotator-cuff-tears. Accessed Aug. 21, 2024.
  3. Ferri FF. Rotator cuff disease. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2025. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 21, 2024.
  4. Simons SM, et al. Presentation and diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 21, 2024.
  5. Martin SD, et al. Management of rotator cuff tears. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 21, 2024.
  6. AskMayoExpert. Rotator cuff tendinopathy. Mayo Clinic; 2023.
  7. Miller M, et al. Rotator cuff and impingement lesions. In: DeLee, Drez, and Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 20, 2024.
  8. Azar FM, et al. Shoulder and elbow injuries. In: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 21, 2024.
  9. Azar FM, et al. Shoulder and elbow arthroplasty. In: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 21, 2024.
  10. Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 4, 2024.
  11. Marigi EM, et al. Improved yet varied clinical outcomes observed with comparison of arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction versus arthroscopy-assisted lower trapezius transfer for patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. Arthroscopy. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2023.04.012.
  12. Stewart RK, et al. Outcomes of subacromial balloon spacer implantation for massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears: A systematic review. The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019; doi:10.1177/2325967119875717.
  13. Nimmagadda R. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Sept. 24, 2024.