Most Older Adults Have Rotator Cuff Abnormalities, but Few Show Symptoms

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Most individuals over 40 years of age have rotator cuff abnormalities, but few exhibit symptoms. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Samantha Anderer

doi:10.1001/jama.2025.26405

March 6, 2026JAMA

Most Older Adults Have Rotator Cuff Abnormalities, but Few Show Symptoms

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Key Points

To investigate the prevalence of rotator cuff abnormalities and their association with symptoms in individuals over 40.
Conducted imaging assessments of rotator cuffs in individuals aged 40 and above.
Analyzed the relationship between findings and symptoms of shoulder pain.
Distinguished between symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulders.
Most individuals over 40 exhibit rotator cuff abnormalities.
Routine imaging fails to consistently identify which shoulders are symptomatic.
A significant number of individuals with abnormalities do not experience symptoms.

Implication

A study reports rotator cuff abnormalities in older adults, implying imaging alone may not predict symptoms.

Abstract

Rotator cuff abnormalities are present in most individuals over 40 years of age, but routine imaging may not identify symptomatic vs asymptomatic shoulders, found a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Samantha Anderer (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ada873bc08abd80d5bb5fd https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.26405

View at Publisher

Ask AI

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Most Older Adults Have Rotator Cuff Abnormalities, but Few Show Symptoms

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Most Older Adults Have Rotator Cuff Abnormalities, but Few Show Symptoms

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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