The Natural History of Asymptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears

Group 1 (Cohorts I \& II) Inclusion Criteria: * Participants who enrolled at age 65 years or younger will remain in the study. * Less than 11 annual visits of non-operative surveillance of study shoulder. * Less than 3 annual visits following a rotator cuff repair of study shoulder. Group 1 (Cohorts I \& II) Exclusion Criteria: * Workman's Compensation claim involving the shoulders. * Use of crutch, cane or weight-bearing device on study shoulder. * Moderate or severe glenohumeral arthritis. * Inflammatory or other disease process affecting neurological/musculoskeletal systems that may impact weight-bearing activities or normal use of upper body. * Inability to return for routine study visits. * Traumatic injury to rotator cuff. * Rotator Cuff Tear greater than 30mm in width. * Advanced fatty muscle degeneration. Patients who are currently enrolled but require a shoulder replacement will not remain in the study. Cohorts I \& II will now be considered the control group for comparison to those enrolled in this next recruitment period. Group 2 (Cohort III) Inclusion Criteria: * Age 65 years or younger. * Surgical candidate for primary, double-row repair of a rotator. * Able to comply with post operative therapy protocol. * Bilateral partial or full thickness rotator cuff tears: one symptomatic requiring surgery and the contralateral shoulder asymptomatic. Group 2 (Cohort III) Exclusion Criteria: * Workman's Compensation claim involving the shoulders. * Use of crutch, cane or weight-bearing device on study shoulder. * Moderate or severe glenohumeral arthritis. * Inflammatory or other disease process affecting neurological/musculoskeletal systems that may impact weight-bearing activities or normal use of upper body. * Inability to return for routine study visits. * Traumatic injury to rotator cuff. * Rotator Cuff Tear greater than 30mm in width. * Advanced fatty muscle degeneration.