By Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida
Shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal complaint in primary care, affecting approximately 18 to 26 percent of adults at any given time. For the active population of Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, and Broward County, where overhead sports, swimming, tennis, golf, and fitness culture are year-round pursuits, shoulder injuries are a familiar obstacle. A significant proportion of those injuries are being sent to surgery before tissue-level conservative care has been meaningfully explored. The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol is designed to address shoulder pathology at the tissue level, without an operating room, without recovery time, and without permanently altering shoulder anatomy.
Rotator cuff surgery for partial tears and tendinopathy has not consistently outperformed non-surgical care in controlled trials. Before agreeing to shoulder surgery, patients deserve a thorough evaluation of non-surgical options, including the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol.
At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, I treat shoulder conditions with particular attention to the soft tissue dimension that standard orthopedic management frequently underaddresses, combining laser therapy with Graston Technique to address both the cellular and mechanical components of rotator cuff and shoulder pathology.
What Is the Rotator Cuff and Why Does It Fail?
The rotator cuff, four muscles and their tendons stabilizing the humeral head within the glenohumeral socket, is responsible for shoulder rotation and elevation. Its tendons, particularly the supraspinatus at its insertion, are chronically underperfused in a vascular watershed zone that limits natural healing capacity.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimates that rotator cuff tears affect approximately 2 million Americans annually. Research published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that full-thickness rotator cuff tears are present in approximately 25 percent of individuals over 60, many of whom are asymptomatic. This prevalence data matters clinically. Imaging that shows a tear is not, by itself, a surgical indication.
What Does the Research Say About Surgery for Rotator Cuff Tears?
Multiple randomized controlled trials published in major orthopedic and medical journals over the past decade have compared surgical repair of degenerative rotator cuff tears to structured physiotherapy and found comparable functional outcomes at one-year follow-up. A 2018 randomized controlled trial in the BMJ (the Finnish Subacromial Impingement Arthroscopy Controlled Trial, or FIMPACT) found that arthroscopic subacromial decompression, one of the most commonly performed shoulder surgeries, was no more effective than a sham procedure. For shoulder impingement and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, which represent the majority of shoulder surgery referrals, the evidence does not support surgical intervention as the first meaningful treatment.
What Does the Regenerative Medical Laser™ Protocol Do for Rotator Cuff Tissue?
The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol delivers medical-grade near-infrared laser energy to the rotator cuff tendons, the subacromial bursa, and the surrounding musculature. Near-infrared laser energy is intended to stimulate fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis, support microvascular perfusion in the cuff’s watershed anatomy, and modulate the inflammatory signaling associated with subacromial pain.
Published research in journals such as Lasers in Medical Science has examined how photobiomodulation may influence tendon healing and collagen fiber organization. For Broward County’s overhead athletes, including swimmers, volleyball players, tennis and racquet sport players, and golfers, the goal is to address the underlying tissue-level pathology rather than manage symptoms alone.
What Does Graston Technique Add for Shoulder Patients?
Chronic rotator cuff conditions often develop extensive soft tissue restrictions in the surrounding musculature. The deltoid, pectorals, biceps, and periscapular muscles all adapt to chronic shoulder dysfunction in ways that can restrict mobility and perpetuate impingement forces. Posterior capsular tightness, a common finding in overhead athletes, contributes to the glenohumeral internal rotation deficit that increases impingement risk with every overhead movement.
Graston Technique applied to these structures is intended to restore normal tissue mobility, reduce the impingement forces that contribute to rotator cuff strain during overhead movement, and address accumulated fascial restrictions that standard physical therapy mobilization may not fully reach.
To learn more, visit Hollywood Laser Pain Center. Patient education content is available on the ReliefNow Nation YouTube channel. Hollywood Laser Pain Center is located at 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood, FL 33020. Phone: 954-925-7333.
About the Author
Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood, FL 33020 | 954-925-7333
Dr. Mark earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic with honors and has practiced for more than 27 years in Hollywood, Florida. He holds certifications in Graston Technique and acupuncture, is a former collegiate football player at Wake Forest University, and practices at Broward Medical and Rehab. He is a provider in the national ReliefNow® network.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.
