Relationship between shoulder abduction strength and rotator cuff tear in elderly women: a general population study

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of age-related rotator cuff tears on shoulder strength in a general population cohort.DesignCross sectional observational study.SettingThis study was set in an outpatient clinic setting in Chingford, North East London, and was a component of the 20 year visit of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2023-07, Vol.13 (7), p.e071908-e071908
Main Authors: Hinsley, Hannah, Ganderton, Charlotte, Arden, Nigel K, Carr, Andrew J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult orthopaedics
Age
Asymptomatic
Body mass index
Elbow
Longitudinal studies
Musculoskeletal disorders
Older people
Orthopedics
Pain
Pathology
Population
Regression analysis
Rotator cuff
Shoulder
Sports and Exercise Medicine
Surgeons
Tendons
Ultrasonic imaging
Variance analysis
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Summary:ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of age-related rotator cuff tears on shoulder strength in a general population cohort.DesignCross sectional observational study.SettingThis study was set in an outpatient clinic setting in Chingford, North East London, and was a component of the 20 year visit of the Chingford 1000 women cohort.ParticipantsIndividuals were part of the Chingford 1000 women cohort, a 20-year-old longitudinal population study. This cohort has been extensively characterised as representative of the population of the UK. At the 20 year visit, 446 attended for shoulder assessment and were aged between 64 and 87.Primary and secondary outcome measuresIsometric shoulder abduction strength measured using a Nottingham Mecmesin Myometer and the presence of rotator cuff pathology, determined via ultrasound examination (GE voluson i portable ultrasound machine with a 10-16MHz linear probe). Shoulders were classified into normal, abnormal tendon/partial tear, full-thickness tears (>0 and ≤2.5 cm) and full-thickness tears (>2.5 cm). Symptoms were defined using the Oxford Shoulder Score, where an abnormal score was defined as symptomatic.Results446 women (891 shoulders) aged 71 (range 65–84) were included in the study. Age, the presence of pain and the non-dominant arm were demonstrated to reduce strength. Rotator cuff tears and pathology had no isolated effect on shoulder strength in those aged under 70. However, in the over 70s full-thickness tears>0 and ≤2.5 cm, and >2.5 cm had mean reductions of 6.3 and 12.7 N, respectively (p
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071908