Our team has published a new study in the Journal of Applied Physiology! Led by Dr. Kinyata Cooper and conducted in collaboration with Dr. Sean Forbes, Dr. Kevin Farmer, and Dr. Glenn Walters, this project used advanced MRI techniques to study shoulder muscle health in individuals with chronic full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears. We are also proud to recognize Zach Hotchkiss, an undergraduate researcher who contributed to this work.
This publication represents the first peer-reviewed article resulting from one of our NIH-funded projects, an important milestone for the lab.
The team found that shoulder muscles affected by rotator cuff tears showed differences in blood flow and energy metabolism compared with healthy muscles, suggesting impairments in muscle function in the presence of chronic injury.
These findings highlight the potential of advanced MRI methods to provide noninvasive markers of muscle health. Better tools for evaluating muscle health after rotator cuff injury could help clinicians monitor recovery and develop more effective treatment strategies for patients.
Congratulations to Dr. Cooper, Zach, and our collaborators on this publication!
Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01210.2025