RFK Jr. undergoing rotator cuff surgery

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will undergo rotator cuff surgery on Tuesday, with plans to return to the office soon after, according to a department spokesperson.

“Secretary Kennedy will undergo rotator cuff surgery this Tuesday and plans to return to the office the following Monday,” an HHS spokesman told The Hill.

News that Kennedy, 72, was undergoing surgery was first reported by the National Review.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), rotator cuff surgery is often recommended when pain does not subside following nonsurgical options. Other indicators that surgery is necessary are pain that lasts six to 12 months, tendon tears larger than 3 centimeters, significant weakness in the shoulder or a tear caused by an acute injury.

The AAOS noted that most rotator cuff surgeries can be done on an outpatient basis, not requiring overnight stays in a hospital.

Kennedy often displays his physical ability. In December, he took part in a pull-up competition with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at Reagan National Airport. Last month, he shared a video online of himself and musician Kid Rock exercising together shirtless.

The secretary has disclosed past health issues he has faced. Perhaps the most notable condition he has discussed is spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition that causes his voice to waver. During his 2024 presidential campaign, a deposition from 2012 was reported on in which Kennedy said his doctor believed a parasitic worm had eaten part of his brain and died.

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