Which group of athletes is at the greatest risk for developing a rotator cuff injury?

The group of athletes at the greatest risk for developing a rotator cuff injury is primarily baseball players. This is due to the specific demands of baseball, which involves repetitive overhead throwing motions, especially in pitchers. The mechanics of throwing place a significant amount of stress on the rotator cuff muscles and tendons, which stabilize the shoulder. Over time, the repetitive loading can lead to overuse injuries, resulting in tendonitis or tears of the rotator cuff.

In contrast, while swimmers and basketball players also utilize overhead movements, the nature of their activities typically differs in intensity and frequency compared to baseball. Soccer players generally do not involve their upper body in the same way, focusing mainly on their lower body for kicking and running, which minimizes their risk for rotator cuff injuries. Thus, the specific biomechanics and demands of baseball make players in this sport particularly vulnerable to such shoulder injuries, highlighting the importance of proper training and conditioning to prevent these types of conditions.