Rotator Cuff Tears: Are They All In The Family? | Arthritis Information
People with relatives who have experienced rotator cuff tears are at increased risk of similar tendon tears themselves, according to a study published in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). "This strongly suggests genetic predisposition as a possible cause for rotator cuff disease," said Robert Z. Tashjian, MD, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine Orthopaedic Center in Salt Lake City.
I don't get that. A rotator cuff tear is an injury. Just because my sister suffered a broken arm from her fall down the stairs doesn't make me predisposed to that.... it had better not!
[QUOTE=CathyMarie]I don't get that. A rotator cuff tear is an injury. Just because my sister suffered a broken arm from her fall down the stairs doesn't make me predisposed to that.... it had better not![/QUOTE]
But there could be some structural issues that are inherited from your parents. Just like you may have your mom's nose or your dad's eyes, maybe you've inherited dad's bum shoulder too.
On the other hand, perhaps the familial association is because family members tend to take part in the same activities, or perform tasks using the same physical motions.
Hmmm, I suppose that could be true. Someday in the future they will know all about how our genes can possibly compromise our health.
I'd like to time travel to the far future and see the advances. There was a Star Trek tv show called Star Trek, the Next Generation. In one episode, the Captain goes to the medical center and says he has a headache. The head doctor runs over and says "Whaaaat? Let me check you, I've never seen one before!".... great writing, I've never forgotten that! Oh, by the way, since headaches never happen then, he of course did not have one; it was some kind of alien's fault... infection, sound waves, something they were always running into in the crowded outer space, the final frontier.
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