A 50-year-old woman is evaluated in the office due to pain in the left shoulder. The pain is exacerbated by movement and wakes the patient up during her sleep. There is no history of trauma, but the pain started after she did heavy house chores last week. She does not have medical or surgical history. On examination, there is tenderness below the acromion. When the patient is asked to abduct her arm 90 degrees to the side, flexing them 30 degrees forward with the thumbs pointing downward. A force is then applied downward to the arms. This technique induced the pain and showed left side weakness. Which of the following muscles' tendons is affected in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Stabilization of the glenohumeral joint and abduction of the arm are the main functions of the supraspinatus muscle. The supraspinatus muscle-tendon injury is prone to injury impinged between the acromion and the head of the humerus. Rotator cuff syndrome is most likely caused by supraspinatus tendinopathy.

A 50-Year-Old Woman Is Evaluated in the Office Due to Pain