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Mechanical Tension on Rotator Cuff Tendons Reduces Blood Flow
Full Title
Excessively High Repair Tension Decreases Microvascular Blood Flow Within the Rotator Cuff.
Summary
This study measured how mechanical tension affects blood flow within the rotator cuff tendons of 30 patients with full-thickness tears. Using a laser Doppler flowmeter, researchers measured microvascular blood flow at four different tension levels. They found that blood flow was significantly reduced when tension reached 20 N or higher, dropping from 3.51 to 2.84 mL/min/100 g at 20 N and to 2.45 at 30 N. The findings demonstrate that mechanical stress directly impairs blood circulation in rotator cuff tissue, supporting the concept that excessive strain and reinjury during healing reduces the blood flow needed for tissue repair.