By Jeannette Franks, PhD
Sometimes I wish I could take my body in for repairs just like I take my car to a mechanic to get new parts. “New battery or headlights—no problem!” But while we can replace more and more parts of the human body, some areas are less amenable to repairs and yet more subject to breakdown, particularly the knees and shoulders. Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common injuries in older people.
My own shoulder injury happened while hiking uphill on a rugged trail, fully-loaded with a heavy backpack. I grabbed a tree to keep from falling when I slipped, and although I broke my fall, my shoulder has not worked well since. It can happen to older people of all levels of fitness.
This article continues at Shoulder Injury