Shoulder Tendonitis

Shoulder and/or Bicipital Tendonitis (Tendinitis)

In tendinitis of the shoulder usually either the bicep tendon or the rotator cuff tendon is injured and/or inflamed, usually as a result of being pinched by surrounding structures. However, misdiagnosis can occur, as bursitis has many of the same symptoms. With this injury, the shoulder is sometimes stiff, and moving the shoulder just increases the pain. Statistical studies show that 8% to 13% of all athletic injuries involve the shoulder in one way or another. Early symptoms of shoulder tendonitis usually last for only a few days, but may recur or become chronic.

Overuse Tendonitis

Shoulder motions used during activities like tennis, golfing, throwing or overhead lifting may cause repetitive stress within the rotator cuff, leading to irritation, bruising or fraying of the tendon. This can cause shoulder pain and weakness in the joint.

Calcific Tendonitis

Calcific tendonitis refers to a build-up of calcium in the rotator cuff, and is often aggravated by an existing condition, such as Impingement or conventional tendonitis in the shoulder. When calcium builds up in the area, pain results from acute inflammation. Fluid movement of the joint is reduced. Calcium is deposited in the rotator cuff, between the humerus and acromion inhibiting the normal, friction-free movement of the joint. Impingement or tendonitis, which reduce the mobility of the joint lead to degenerative change and Calcium deposition.

Frozen Shoulder

A frozen shoulder is signified by pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint; limited range of motion and pain during nighttime rest are common symptoms. A frozen shoulder (known also as adhesive capsulitis) is a condition that commonly occurs in older athletes. Frozen shoulder is five times more common in people with diabetes, though the reason for this is unknown. A lining of fibrous tissue, known as a capsule, surrounds the shoulder joint. The capsule is fully stretched when the arm is raised above the head, and it hangs down as a small pouch when the arm is lowered.

Frozen shoulder occurs when this lining becomes thickened and swollen. It is thought a frozen shoulder may come on as a result of a previous injury, but also can come on for no apparent reason or may be triggered by a mild injury in the shoulder area. There are three phases to this condition, starting with pain, then stiffness and finally a stage of resolution as the pain eases and most of the movement returns. This process may take an awfully long time, sometimes as long as two or more years. Frozen shoulder may be associated with diabetes and is also seen in patients with scar tissue in their hands (a condition known as Dupuytren's contracture).

Torn Rotator Cuff (Supraspinatus Tendinitis)

Many rotator cuff injuries occur gradually, though many are associated with sports injuries (especially baseball and swimming), falls on the shoulder, or an added injury due to shoulder dislocation in elderly folk. Read more about a torn rotator cuff here.

Treatment

When treating a strained shoulder tendon, rest the area and apply cold compression for 10-20 minutes at a time for at least 3 times a day. Do this to the injured area for the first day up to 3 days.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy may be used after the acute swelling is improved. Cold compression therapy will reduce initial inflammation and swelling and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy increases blood flow through the area to speed the healing process. This can be further helped by the use of ultrasound applications over the affected area, as it reduces swelling quickly and increases blood flow to the area, helping the tendon heal more quickly.

The trick to any tendon injury is getting it to heal with minimal scar tissue formation and with as much realignment of tendon fibers as possible - something both Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy and therapeutic ultrasound are great at! Even with optimum healing there is always less elasticity in a previously injured tendon. The trick is to make sure you heal this the best you can, that way your chance of reinjury down the road is much lower than average.

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