Rotator cuff tendinitis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the tendons of the shoulder.
Symptoms
- Pain associated with arm movement
- Pain in the shoulder at night, especially when lying on the affected shoulder
- Weakness with raising the arm above the head, or pain with
overhead activities (brushing hair, reaching for objects on shelves,
etc.)
Treatment involves resting the shoulder and
avoiding activities that cause pain. Ice packs applied to the shoulder
and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help reduce inflammation
and pain.
Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the
rotator cuff should be started. If the pain persists or if therapy is
not possible because of severe pain, a steroid injection may reduce
pain and inflammation enough to allow effective therapy.
If the
rotator cuff has had a complete tear, or if the symptoms persist
despite conservative therapy, surgery may be necessary. Arthroscopic
surgery can be used to repair some tears and remove bone spurs and
inflamed tissue around the shoulder. Some large tears require open
surgery to repair the torn tendon.
The shoulder joint is a ball and socket type
joint where the top part of the arm bone (humerus) forms a joint with
the shoulder blade (scapula). The rotator cuff holds the head of the
humerus into the scapula.
Inflammation of the tendons of the
shoulder muscles can occur in sports requiring the arm to be moved over
the head repeatedly as in tennis, baseball (particularly pitching),
swimming, and lifting weights over the head. Chronic inflammation or
injury can cause the tendons of the rotator cuff to tear.
The
risk factors are being over age 40 and participation in sports or
exercise that involves repetitive arm motion over the head (such as
baseball).
A physical examination may reveal tenderness
over the shoulder. Pain may occur when the shoulder is raised overhead.
There is usually weakness of the shoulder when it is placed in certain
positions.
X-rays may show a bone spur, while MRI may show inflammation in the rotator cuff. An MRI can show a tear in the rotator cuff.
Most people recover full function after a
combination of medications, physical therapy, and possibly various injections including intramuscular stimulation/manual therapy or the worst case scenario of steroid injections.
For patients with tendinitis and a bone spur, arthroscopic surgery is
usually successful in restoring them to their pre-injury level of
activity.
People with tears of their rotator cuff tend to do
well, although their outcome is strongly dependent upon the size and
duration of the tear, as well as their age and pre-injury level of
function.
Avoid repetitive overhead movements. Develop shoulder strength in opposing muscle groups.
- Bursitis
- Complete rotator cuff tear
- Treatment fails to improve symptoms
Call for an appointment with your health care
provider if persistent shoulder pain occurs. Also call if symptoms do
not improve with treatment.
303.655.8699
