Management of Rotator Cuff Tear in a Kathakali Dancer with a History of Trauma: A Case Report

This case report presents a conservatively managed case of a 43 year old male professional Kathakali dancer with a traumatic under surface fibre failure (TUFF) of sub-scapularis tendon along with partial thickness tear of supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon at its “critical zone� and tendinosis of the pulley segment of long head of biceps brachii . The patient reported to our rehabilitation center with a history of road traffic accident (RTA) Conservative treatment started immediately after the diagnosis was made. Sub-scapularis muscle is the largest muscle of 4 muscles contributing to form rotator cuff and providing over 50% of muscle and tendon mass to support shoulder joint. Despite its importance and impact on conservative and surgical management it is often under-looked.Hence, while working on the weaken scapular muscles one must not forget the importance of relaxing the shoulder muscles first, especially subscapularis and then initiate the strengthening protocol.