
Tendonitis of the Shoulder (Tendonitis of the Rotator Cuff)
Rotator cuff tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendons around the shoulder joint, often leading patients to seek out their specialist shoulder doctor. They are one of the most frequent causes of shoulder pain and generally result from situations of overstraining, namely those that occur during sports practice, whether in high competition athletes or in weekend sportspeople.
Rotator cuff tendonitis are associated with conflict situations (or impingement) and with inflammation of the bursae that surround the shoulder joint, originating the so-called bursitis, such as sub-acromial bursitis (see below).
The diagnosis is usually made by discriminating the characteristics of the pain, specifying: the location; the inflammatory character; the triggering factor (usually high intensity exercise) and the response to anti-inflammatory medication, rest and ice.
Palpation of the pain site can help identify the shoulder structure affected by tendonitis.
Usually, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder are used as auxiliary diagnostic tests, due to their high sensitivity and specificity for soft tissue pathologies. Radiological exams may also reveal calcium deposits, characteristic of calcifying tendonitis of the cuff (see calcifications of the cuff).
The treatment for rotator cuff tendonitis, in general, involves: reducing physical activity (or even resting); taking anti-inflammatory medication and applying ice.
A rehabilitation programme (physiotherapy) adapted and prepared by your specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation is important to speed up the process of recovery and eventual return to sport.
Surgery is rarely indicated for the treatment of shoulder tendonitis, which is why it should be carefully considered by your orthopaedic surgeon. It is reserved for chronic tendinopathies of the cuff that are resistant to conservative treatment and have associated partial or complete tears.
See below which are the most frequent tendonitis/bursitis of the shoulder and how to treat them individually:
Rotator cuff tendonitis are associated with conflict situations (or impingement) and with inflammation of the bursae that surround the shoulder joint, originating the so-called bursitis, such as sub-acromial bursitis (see below).
The diagnosis is usually made by discriminating the characteristics of the pain, specifying: the location; the inflammatory character; the triggering factor (usually high intensity exercise) and the response to anti-inflammatory medication, rest and ice.
Palpation of the pain site can help identify the shoulder structure affected by tendonitis.
Usually, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder are used as auxiliary diagnostic tests, due to their high sensitivity and specificity for soft tissue pathologies. Radiological exams may also reveal calcium deposits, characteristic of calcifying tendonitis of the cuff (see calcifications of the cuff).
The treatment for rotator cuff tendonitis, in general, involves: reducing physical activity (or even resting); taking anti-inflammatory medication and applying ice.
A rehabilitation programme (physiotherapy) adapted and prepared by your specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation is important to speed up the process of recovery and eventual return to sport.
Surgery is rarely indicated for the treatment of shoulder tendonitis, which is why it should be carefully considered by your orthopaedic surgeon. It is reserved for chronic tendinopathies of the cuff that are resistant to conservative treatment and have associated partial or complete tears.
See below which are the most frequent tendonitis/bursitis of the shoulder and how to treat them individually: