01/18/2026
Understanding Rotator Cuff Tears: Clearing Up Partial and Full Thickness Injuries in Young and Adult Athletes
Hello friends!
We get a few questions about the difference between rotator cuff tears in our office, so decided to make this post. These shoulder issues affect so many young and adult athletes, and seems that there's a lot of confusion out there between the terminology used.
So let me break it down in a simple, straightforward, and transparent post. If you're dealing with shoulder pain, this might just hit home.
First things first: the rotator cuff is that awesome group of four muscles and tendons that keeps your shoulder stable and moving smoothly. Tears can pop up from a sudden tweak, repetitive motions (think sports or work), inflammatory conditions (like diabetes) or just the wear and tear of getting older.
At The Athlete Spot we typically spot them through our detailed shoulder audit. Some doctors like to confirm them with MRIs, but it's not always necessary. When an MRI is used words like "partial thickness" or "full thickness" tend to be used and can sound intimidating.
A lot of people hear "tear" and freak out, imagining surgery right away. But hang on... that's usually not the case. It all depends on the depth and size.
Which bring us to the "partial" vs "full" tear.
Let's talk partial thickness tears. No, it's not like half your tendon is partially torn in half... it's more about thinning, like a little dent or erosion, not a huge rip. I love using this analogy: imagine folding paper (the tendon's layers) and just scratching the top without cutting through. That's exactly what a partial tear is!
If that's you, symptoms are often annoying but doable: pain in one spot, worse with overhead stuff. You can usually move your arm fully without a "shrug sign" (where your shoulder blade hikes up to help). Best part? These respond great to non-surgical fixes like our AntiFragile Shoulder Program. I've seen clients turn it around big time with early action. No knife needed! No time wasted!
Now, full thickness tears go all the way through the depth, but not always a total detachment. It might be a small hole or bigger gap. Back to the paper: partial is a scratch, full is a punch-through, but it could still hold if not too wide.
If this is you, then your symptoms may vary. Pain may be mild to ouch, trouble lifting overhead, and maybe that shrug sign is more noticeable when lifting your arm.
Typically for these we start our AntiFragile Shoulder Program immediately with 4-6 weeks of in person therapy. Over 80% of our patients presenting with a full tear have responded favorably.
If there's no progress within the first 4 weeks? Surgery might help prevent long-term muscle loss. But remember, your age, lifestyle, and health play huge roles. Most of our patients choose to complete our 16 week program before electing the knife.
Fun fact: These tears are super common! Over 60% of us (ages 25-45) might have one, up to 80% in seniors. Many don't even notice and keep living active lives.
About 75% of those who elect to avoid surgery get really good results after two years with basic care. It's proof we can focus on function over "fixing" everything surgically.
The key? Understanding the commitment and reframing how we think about it significantly boosts your recovery.
The word "tear" sounds scary, but with clear chats and analogies, fear fades, and motivation kicks in.
If your shoulder's bugging you, let's connect! Schedule a FREE virtual assessment with me. We'll check it out, talk symptoms, and see if my program fits you.
No pressure, just help. DM me or visit my link in bio to book. What's holding you back? Let's get you moving pain-free! đź’Ş
www.theathletespot.com
