Muscle Fat Infiltration, Atrophy and Glenohumeral Rotator Cuff Pathology Associations

Osteoarthritis, a disabling disease that induces high degrees of disability among many older adults in all parts of the globe despite years of study, advanced surgical joint replacement and remedial procedures. Deemed incurable, it now appears it may be possible to mitigate this condition wherein an increasing role is observed for muscle atrophy, as well as the encroachment or expansion of excess fatty tissue into vulnerable or injured muscles or tendons. This report focuses on observations from studies examining rotator cuff muscle dysfunction, lesions or damage and its potential impact on shoulder arthritis, but may be overlooked. In this regard, it appears that with few exceptions and regardless of article examined a possible bi-directional role for muscle fat mass infiltration or presence alongside muscle atrophy that may have a strong bearing on the shoulder osteoarthritis disability cycle. Often overlooked, we conclude muscle fat infiltration appears of high clinical significance in influencing the disease progression and its observed reversibility challenges. Osteoarthritis, a disabling disease that induces high degrees of disability among many older adults in all parts of the globe despite years of study, advanced surgical joint replacement and remedial procedures. Deemed incurable, it now appears it may be possible to mitigate this condition wherein an increasing role is observed for muscle atrophy, as well as the encroachment or expansion of excess fatty tissue into vulnerable or injured muscles or tendons. This report focuses on observations from studies examining rotator cuff muscle dysfunction, lesions or damage and its potential impact on shoulder arthritis, but may be overlooked. In this regard, it appears that with few exceptions and regardless of article examined a possible bi-directional role for muscle fat mass infiltration or presence alongside muscle atrophy that may have a strong bearing on the shoulder osteoarthritis disability cycle. Often overlooked, we conclude muscle fat infiltration appears of high clinical significance in influencing the disease progression and its observed reversibility challenges.