Shoulder injuries are a common problem, especially among people who exercise frequently.

John Tozzi remembers what was like before he received surgery for his injured rotator cuff. "I thought it was a muscle pull and I'm not really sure if that was the cause but, it's the only thing I can think that I did something that I remember. I thought it would get better and it just seemed to get worse and worse."

Orthopedic Surgeon Todd Atkinson explains that patients should consider surgery after training and physical therapy show little result. "Some people can increase strength around those areas and have enough that they can do everything they want do and for those people I don't recommend surgery."

Dr. Atkinson says that if surgery is required, physicians usually prefer to use the laproscopic method, which promotes a lot faster healing time and a much smaller incision. "I took an arthrascope, which is a camera about the size of a pin right into the shoulder joint and that enables me to see the everything, I can see the cartilage, I can see what's called labrum, the ball, the socket, the biceps tendon look at the entire rotator cuff and see what kind of tear is in there."

Doctor Atkinson also says that after surgery patients like John will have some recovery time, but generally experience less pain and an increased range of motion, able to return to normal soon. "We placed it in a sling for a couple weeks after the surgery, then progressed with then physical therapy."

The rotator cuff is usually involved if the pain is in the front or outside of the shoulder with the pain worsening.