A while back, we highlighted how smoking damages bone health. It accelerates osteoporosis and slows bone healing after a fracture.
If you missed that discussion, you can read more here:
New Evidence: Smoking Also Damages Your Shoulder
More studies continue to stack up showing that smoking has direct, long-term consequences for shoulder health. One consistent finding keeps emerging: smoking raises the risk of rotator cuff disease.
A recent review looked at a wide range of studies and found the same pattern every time. Smoking makes the rotator cuff more vulnerable to degeneration, tearing, and irritation.
Understanding the Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that sit deep in the shoulder. They help you lift your arm overhead and keep the ball of the shoulder joint centered in the socket.
Rotator cuff injuries—tears, inflammation, and general wear—are among the most common shoulder problems people face as they age.
Normal Aging vs. Smoking-Related Damage
All of us experience some natural tendon wear over the years. Tendons gradually lose a bit of elasticity and resilience.
Smokers, however, experience far more severe rotator cuff degeneration and at a much faster pace.
Why Smoking Speeds Up Degeneration
Two key reasons:
- Damage to small blood vessels. Tendons rely on tiny blood vessels for nutrition and healing. Smoking compromises these vessels.
- Nicotine stiffens tendon tissue. Animal studies show nicotine can make tendons less flexible and less capable of absorbing stress.
As a result, smokers tend to develop larger rotator cuff tears and have a higher rate of shoulder impingement than nonsmokers of the same age and activity level.
Your Tissue Quality Shapes Your Treatment Outcome
Many aspects of shoulder health are out of your doctor’s control. Your tissue quality is one of them. Age, overall health, and daily demands all play a role—but smoking stands out because it is one of the major modifiable factors.
When tendons are already weakened or poorly nourished, the road to recovery—whether through physical therapy or surgery—becomes much tougher.
A Practical Way to Protect Your Shoulders
If you want a better shot at keeping your shoulder healthy and pain-free for as long as possible, quitting smoking can dramatically shift things in your favor. Easier said than done, of course—but it is one of the clearest steps you can take to reduce your risk of rotator cuff disease over time.
Shoulder Pain in Western New York?
If you live in the Buffalo-Niagara region, including Williamsville, Orchard Park, or Niagara Falls, and you’re dealing with shoulder pain—or wondering how smoking might be affecting your shoulder—Dr. DiPaola can help.