How shoulder muscles change after a rotator cuff tear
Biomechanics of muscle after rotator cuff tear: Multi-scale assessment of spatial and temporal effects
This project looks at how shoulder muscles change over time after a rotator cuff tear to help people with shoulder injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237132 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a rotator cuff tear, this project follows how the shoulder muscle's shape and strength change over time. Researchers will use a well-established rabbit model to measure muscle atrophy, fatty infiltration, fiber organization, and multi-scale mechanical properties before and after tendon tear and surgical repair. They will combine those experimental measurements with a new computational model that predicts how muscle structure affects force and movement. The aim is to identify the key tissue changes and time windows that future treatments should target to improve recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a rotator cuff tear—recent or chronic—or those planning surgical repair would be the most relevant candidates for future studies or interventions informed by this work.
Not a fit: People without rotator cuff injury or whose shoulder problems are caused mainly by nerve damage, arthritis, or other non-muscular conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify the specific muscle changes and timing to guide treatments that improve strength and recovery after rotator cuff tears.
How similar studies have performed: Animal and imaging studies have previously shown muscle atrophy and fatty changes after rotator cuff tears, but combining longitudinal experimental data with a predictive multi-scale computational model is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vidt, Meghan Elise — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Vidt, Meghan Elise
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.