Full-thickness rotator-cuff tears in professional football players.

A survey was sent to team physicians in the National Football League to investigate the number of full-thickness rotator-cuff tears occurring in professional football players and to assess treatment of these injuries. Fifty-one full-thickness tears in 49 players were reported. Offensive linemen and linebackers were most commonly affected; 2 linemen sustained bilateral tears. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall onto the shoulder.