The human body has numerous joints, and some are more prone to various injuries such as tendinitis, and the shoulder is one of them. This is because this joint needs excellent mobility in all directions while requiring stability and strength to perform various daily tasks. For this reason, the supraspinatus tendon is one of the most compromised and can present painful alterations for those who suffer them.
Tendonitis is one of the most common ailments, and it is an inflammation in a tendon, so any part of the body can be affected. Shoulder tendonitis, also called rotator cuff tendonitis, is very common and can make it difficult for the arm to move normally, making it very annoying. If you want to know more about this alteration, in the following FastlyHealarticle, we offer you much information about shoulder tendonitis: symptoms and treatment.
Table of Contents
Some Causes of Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
Although shoulder tendonitis is more common in people over 40 years of age, this tendon disorder is pervasive in those who perform vigorous physical activities, such as athletes. This is because the leading causes of shoulder tendonitis are:
- Making a wrong move when lifting weights.
- Lifting more weight than the body can handle.
- Playing sports that require throwing balls or objects roughly, such as baseball.
- Using rackets for a long time is very common in those who play tennis.
- Forcing the arms above the head, like swimmers or those engaged in construction and painting.
Despite the above, this alteration can also be related to various daily activities such as:
- Constantly lifting heavy objects with incorrect posture.
- Do exercises in which the shoulder makes involuntary movements.
- Fall on the arm.
Primary symptoms of shoulder tendonitis
The symptoms present in almost all tendonitis are very similar, beginning with mild inflammation and local pain. If this alteration is treated in time, recovery from tendonitis is faster, and its progression can be prevented. When this is not done, the following symptoms of shoulder tendonitis begin to appear :
- Inflammatory complaints are characterized by calming the pain while at rest and increasing at night.
- Pain when pressure is exerted on the affected tendon.
- Radiation of pain from the shoulder to the side of the arm.
- Intense discomfort with movements involving the shoulder.
- Discomfort when stretching the compromised tendon.
- Loss of arm strength and normal arm movement.
Supraspinatus tendinitis: treatment
Although there is the possibility of performing a surgical treatment for those suffering from various tendonitis, this method is the last to be used because numerous other alternatives offer excellent results.
One of the most used and recommended treatments is physiotherapy, thanks to the significant improvement achieved in most cases. The main objective of this conservative method is to restore the delicate biomechanics of the joint in question through various exercises and techniques exercised by professionals. In this way, the treatment offers patients to regain normal joint mobility while improving tendon tissues.
The rest is a critical factor for discomfort by tendinitis, especially in mild cases. For this reason, a treatment highly recommended by experts is to do moderate rest and massage the affected area to improve the alteration.
The doctor may also choose to perform treatment-only medicines, prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce inflammation and get rid of the pain or injections with corticosteroids when other drugs are not effective; however, this may be accompanied by some other type of treatment mentioned above.
On the other hand, in the most severe cases, the best treatment option for shoulder tendonitis is surgical intervention, which can be through the arthroscopic technique or the open surgical technique, generally to suture the torn tendon or file the acromion. If it sticks out, it is the bone in the upper part of the shoulder, which rubs against the tendon and causes deterioration. The specialist opts for surgery if physical therapy or medications do not reduce symptoms or provide full recovery from the disorder.
Shoulder injury prevention
Tendonitis tends to be repetitive, mainly if not treated correctly and can generate a greater risk, such as a tendon rupture. Therefore, it is essential to carry out the treatment constantly and adequately supervised by a professional. Likewise, there are specific essential guidelines to prevent the appearance of shoulder tendonitis; among them, the following stand out:
- Carry out a correct warm-up before doing sports or any exercise.
- Repetitive movements should be avoided.
- Perform muscle exercises to maintain flexibility and strength.
- Be constantly well hydrated.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Shoulder Tendonitis: symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Bones, Joints and Muscles .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.