
Rotator Cuff Tendons with Jared Powell
04/08/25 • 65 min
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy 03:13 Understanding Shoulder Pain and Its Complexities 06:04 The Shift from Impingement to Rotator Cuff Related Pain 09:00 The Role of Imaging in Shoulder Pain Diagnosis 11:58 Common Mismanagement in Shoulder Pain Treatment 15:10 Loading Programs for Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation 18:04 Positional vs. Energy Storage Tendons 20:59 The Nature of Rotator Cuff Tears 24:07 The Tipping Point to Pain in Rotator Cuff Pathology 32:53 Understanding Rotator Cuff Tears 39:26 The Role of Exercise in Recovery 46:47 Pain Management and Rehabilitation Strategies 55:19 Exploring the Mechanisms of Tendon Pain 01:00:18 The Importance of Tendon Stiffness
Takeaways
- Rotator cuff related shoulder pain accounts for 70-80% of shoulder pain presentations.
- Pain is complex and multifactorial, making diagnosis challenging.
- The traditional impingement model is being challenged in favor of a broader understanding of shoulder pain.
- Imaging often does not influence management decisions for rotator cuff issues.
- Corticosteroid injections provide only short-term relief and can have negative effects on tendon quality.
- Exercise-based management is crucial for effective rehabilitation of shoulder pain.
- The rotator cuff tendons are positional and strain less than energy storage tendons.
- Rotator cuff tears are common and can exist without pain or dysfunction.
- Age is the biggest risk factor for developing rotator cuff pathology.
- Understanding the tipping point to pain is essential for effective treatment. Rotator cuff tears are often associated with poor vascular supply and degeneration over time.
- Metabolic factors like diabetes and smoking can increase the risk of rotator cuff tears.
- Exercise can be as effective as surgery for massive rotator cuff tears.
- Expectations of recovery significantly influence rehabilitation outcomes.
- Education about the commonality of tendon tears can help reduce patient anxiety.
- Pain during exercise can be tolerated up to a certain level without adverse effects.
- Sleeping positions can impact shoulder pain and should be modified accordingly.
- Adjunct treatments like shockwave therapy and corticosteroids have limited long-term benefits.
- Tendon stiffness is important for efficient force transfer, but its role in pain management is still being studied.
- Understanding the psychological aspects of pain can enhance recovery from tendon injuries.
Website: https://www.shoulderphysio.com
Twitter: https://x.com/JaredPowell12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoulder_physio/?hl=en
Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-140-rotator-cuff-tendons-with-jared-powell/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy 03:13 Understanding Shoulder Pain and Its Complexities 06:04 The Shift from Impingement to Rotator Cuff Related Pain 09:00 The Role of Imaging in Shoulder Pain Diagnosis 11:58 Common Mismanagement in Shoulder Pain Treatment 15:10 Loading Programs for Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation 18:04 Positional vs. Energy Storage Tendons 20:59 The Nature of Rotator Cuff Tears 24:07 The Tipping Point to Pain in Rotator Cuff Pathology 32:53 Understanding Rotator Cuff Tears 39:26 The Role of Exercise in Recovery 46:47 Pain Management and Rehabilitation Strategies 55:19 Exploring the Mechanisms of Tendon Pain 01:00:18 The Importance of Tendon Stiffness
Takeaways
- Rotator cuff related shoulder pain accounts for 70-80% of shoulder pain presentations.
- Pain is complex and multifactorial, making diagnosis challenging.
- The traditional impingement model is being challenged in favor of a broader understanding of shoulder pain.
- Imaging often does not influence management decisions for rotator cuff issues.
- Corticosteroid injections provide only short-term relief and can have negative effects on tendon quality.
- Exercise-based management is crucial for effective rehabilitation of shoulder pain.
- The rotator cuff tendons are positional and strain less than energy storage tendons.
- Rotator cuff tears are common and can exist without pain or dysfunction.
- Age is the biggest risk factor for developing rotator cuff pathology.
- Understanding the tipping point to pain is essential for effective treatment. Rotator cuff tears are often associated with poor vascular supply and degeneration over time.
- Metabolic factors like diabetes and smoking can increase the risk of rotator cuff tears.
- Exercise can be as effective as surgery for massive rotator cuff tears.
- Expectations of recovery significantly influence rehabilitation outcomes.
- Education about the commonality of tendon tears can help reduce patient anxiety.
- Pain during exercise can be tolerated up to a certain level without adverse effects.
- Sleeping positions can impact shoulder pain and should be modified accordingly.
- Adjunct treatments like shockwave therapy and corticosteroids have limited long-term benefits.
- Tendon stiffness is important for efficient force transfer, but its role in pain management is still being studied.
- Understanding the psychological aspects of pain can enhance recovery from tendon injuries.
Website: https://www.shoulderphysio.com
Twitter: https://x.com/JaredPowell12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoulder_physio/?hl=en
Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-140-rotator-cuff-tendons-with-jared-powell/
Previous Episode

Tendons with Chris Johnson
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Chris Johnson and Tendon Rehabilitation 03:08 Understanding Exercise Monotherapy in Tendon Rehab 05:48 The Importance of Loading in Tendon Recovery 08:56 Chris's Journey and Mentorship in Physical Therapy 12:11 Rehabilitation Insights from ACL Injuries 14:56 Exploring Patellar Tendinopathy and Its Variants 17:55 Differentiating Tendon Pain in Athletes 20:59 Pain Management and Acceptable Levels in Rehab 23:47 The Role of Isometrics in Tendon Rehabilitation 26:58 The Debate on Pain Levels in Tendon Rehab 30:03 Conclusions and Future Directions in Tendon Rehab 36:09 Navigating Knee Rehabilitation Strategies 39:58 Exploring Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in Rehab 46:41 Balancing Activity and Rehabilitation in Athletes 51:07 The Importance of Warm-Up and Cool Down 55:41 Understanding Tendon Stiffness and Rehabilitation Methods 01:00:17 Psychosocial Factors in Tendinopathy Rehabilitation 01:03:41 Compression and Loading in Tendon Health 01:06:34 The Role of Mechanical Transduction in Tendon Adaptation
Takeaways
- Exercise monotherapy simplifies tendon rehab by focusing on key loading strategies.
- Loading the tissue is crucial for effective tendon rehabilitation.
- Education and communication are vital in managing patient expectations and outcomes.
- Isometrics can be beneficial but may not work for everyone.
- Pain management in rehab is nuanced and should be individualized.
- Understanding the athlete's background helps tailor rehab strategies.
- Patellar tendinopathy presents differently in various athletes and requires specific approaches.
- The importance of restoring quad function in knee injuries cannot be overstated.
- Reactive tendinopathy cases can often resolve quickly with proper management.
- The debate on acceptable pain levels in rehab continues, emphasizing the need for individualized approaches. Consider alternative exercises like reverse Nordic for knee rehab.
- Gradually increase load and time to fatigue the quads.
- Warm-up routines can significantly impact tendon health.
- Compression forces are unavoidable in running; manage them wisely.
- Psychosocial factors play a crucial role in tendinopathy recovery.
- NMES can be a last resort for irritable tendons.
- Maintaining activity is essential for athletes during rehab.
- Walking warm-ups can enhance performance and recovery.
- Tendon stiffness is critical for injury prevention.
- Understanding mechanical transduction is vital for effective rehab.
Website: https://chrisjohnsonpt.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisjohnsonthept/?hl=en
Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-139-tendons-with-chris-johnson/
Next Episode

Hamstrings and Hamstring Tendons with Johan Lahti
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Hamstrings and Johan's Background 03:11 Functional Anatomy of the Hamstrings 06:13 Complexity of Hamstring Function and Evolution 09:06 Injury Mechanisms and Proximal vs Distal Injuries 12:02 Fatigue and Its Impact on Hamstring Injuries 15:04 Sport-Specific Hamstring Injury Risks 18:12 Rehabilitation and Development of Hamstrings 32:55 Understanding Hamstring Function and Training 37:13 The Importance of Hamstring Strength and Conditioning 42:00 Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Strategies 46:14 Common Mistakes in Hamstring Rehabilitation 52:29 Optimizing Hamstring Training for Performance 56:20 Practical Recommendations for Hamstring Development 01:00:59 Future Directions in Hamstring Research
Takeaways
- Johan Lahti has a strong background in strength and conditioning.
- Hamstrings are crucial for speed and injury prevention.
- The anatomy of hamstrings is complex and specialized.
- Biceps femoris long head is the most commonly injured hamstring.
- Fatigue significantly alters movement patterns and injury risk.
- Different sports have varying rates of hamstring injuries.
- Proximal injuries are more common than distal injuries.
- Effective rehabilitation requires understanding of hamstring function.
- Training should focus on both hip and knee movements.
- Range of motion is key for optimal performance. Knee-over-hip movement targets specific hamstring muscles.
- Nordics are effective for hamstring injury prevention.
- Trunk control is vital for efficient hamstring function.
- Thorough hamstring development addresses all muscle groups.
- Hamstrings may require different training strategies based on fiber type.
- Acceleration plays a significant role in hamstring rehabilitation.
- Strength training should focus on a large range of motion.
- Sled training can enhance sprinting performance.
- Eccentric overload studies are needed for better understanding.
- Practical application in training is crucial for athletes.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r5.johan/?hl=en
Twitter: https://x.com/lahti_johan
Notes: https://jackedathlete.com/podcast-141-hamstrings-and-hamstring-tendons-with-johan-lahti/
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/jacked-athlete-podcast-385946/rotator-cuff-tendons-with-jared-powell-89139221"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to rotator cuff tendons with jared powell on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy