| 0 | Normal |
| I | minimal superficial bursal or synovial irritation or mild capsular fraying in small localized area (< 1 cm) |
| II | fraying and failure of some rotator cuff fibres with synovial bursal or capsular injury (< 2 cm) |
| III | fraying and fragmentation of tendon fibres usually involving whole surface of a cuff tendon, mostly supraspinatus (< 3 cm) |
| IV | severe tear with tendon fraying, fragmentation and sizable flap tear involving single tendon |