Compensatory activation of the deltoid and remaining rotator cuff muscles in patients with rotator cuff tears using real-time tissue elastography - Report - MDSpire

Compensatory activation of the deltoid and remaining rotator cuff muscles in patients with rotator cuff tears using real-time tissue elastography

  • By

  • Kyosuke Hoshikawa

  • Ryuta Oishi

  • Takuma Yuri

  • Tomohiro Uno

  • Jun Nagai

  • Hugo Giambini

  • Nariyuki Mura

  • June 24, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Real-Time Tissue Elastography Reveals Compensatory Activation of Deltoid and Rotator Cuff Muscles in Individuals with Rotator Cuff Tears

Overview

This study investigates the compensatory activation of deltoid and rotator cuff muscles in patients with rotator cuff tears using real-time tissue elastography.

Background

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder dysfunction and pain, often requiring careful management decisions regarding surgical or nonoperative treatment. Understanding the muscle activation patterns in these patients is important.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Twenty-four patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were included in the study.
  • Two distinct patterns of deltoid muscle behavior were observed during shoulder elevation.
  • Deltoid activity increased linearly with shoulder elevation in some patients, while others showed constant high activity.
  • Ultrasound elastography was utilized to measure muscle stiffness and activity during elevation.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that assessing deltoid muscle behavior may provide insights into the functional status of remaining rotator cuff muscles. This information could be valuable in tailoring rehabilitation strategies for patients with rotator cuff tears.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of understanding muscle activation patterns in patients with rotator cuff tears, which may aid in optimizing treatment approaches.

Related Resources & Content

  1. European Radiology, 2025 -- Assessment of Deltoid Muscle Integrity in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: Relationship Between MRI Results and Postoperative Functional Outcomes and Strength
  2. European Radiology, 2023 -- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in Measuring Rotator Cuff Quality
  3. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), 2026 -- Digital Rehabilitation Following Ultrasound-Guided Injection for Chronic Rotator Cuff Injury: Randomized Controlled Trial
  4. European Radiology, 2025 -- Evaluating the Diagnostic Efficacy of Dual-Energy CT Virtual Monochromatic Imaging for Supraspinatus Tendon Injuries Compared to Conventional CT and MRI Techniques
  5. AAOS, 2025 -- Rotator Cuff Clinical Practice Guideline
  6. PubMed, 2021 -- At a 10-Year Follow-up, Tendon Repair Is Superior to Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Small and Medium-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears
  7. SECEC -- European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and Elbow rotator cuff tear registry Delphi consensus
  8. https://new.aaos.org/globalassets/quality-and-practice-resources/rotator-cuff/rotator-cuff-2025/rotator-cuff-cpg.pdf
  9. At a 10-Year Follow-up, Tendon Repair Is Superior to Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Small and Medium-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears - PubMed
  10. European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and Elbow (SECEC) rotator cuff tear registry Delphi consensus

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