Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) was pioneered by Grammont in the 1980s as a potential treatment for cuff tear arthropathy and irreparable cuff tears. RSA was designed to use the deltoid as the primary elevator of the shoulder, negating the need for the rotator cuff. Early short-term results show improvements in pain and function scores for both cuff tear arthropathy and irreparable cuff tears. Long-term studies are still needed to evaluate the long-term benefits of these devices in this patient population.