Rotator cuff tendonitis is a fairly common sports injury, especially in people over 40. For that reason, cuff tendonitis is also known as tennis shoulder, swimmer’s shoulder, and pitcher’s shoulder. The condition is often the result of repetitive movement of the arm over the head like when pitching baseball.
The tendons of the shoulders may become inflamed by overuse or misuse causing cuff tendonitis. You do not have to be an avid sports player for tendons to tear causing cuff tendonitis. While simply rolling over in bed and even landing on the shoulder while falling may injure tendons.
Cuff tendonitis may be acute or chronic. Over the years, you can develop chronic tendonitis with repetitive overhead activities like the movements that are often used by weightlifters and other athletes. Overstretching, tearing or rupturing the tendons of the shoulder can cause injuries that can result in acute tendonitis.
Chronic cuff tendonitis symptoms include pain in the shoulder that may become more intense at night, pain that intensifies over time, the inability to lift the arm over the head or out to the side and a general weakness of the area. Sudden severe pain and muscle spasms may be the result of acute cuff tendonitis. Tendons may even bleed causing bruising to the area.
The damage and severity of cuff tendonitis determines the best type of treatment. You may use pain relievers such as ibuprofen to reduce the symptom of inflammation; you may also use occasional ice pack applications to reduce pain and swelling while you are at home. Tendon tears may require surgical repair, however either of these conditions will require rest so that healing is possible.
Physical therapy is used to treat tendonitis and to help prevent it from recurring. Exercises are prescribed that strengthen the rotator cuff muscles. If pain is too severe to do the exercises, steroids may be injected into the joint to help relieve swelling and pain so the shoulder regains full range of motion.
The various forms of treatment for cuff tendonitis are generally effective. Most people regain normal use of their arm and shoulder and are able to resume the activities engaged in before the injury. Severe tendon tears and injuries in older people take longer to heal.
When cuff tendonitis is not permitted to heal properly, it can lead to bursitis, the inflammation of a shoulder cavity filled with fluid. Bursa functions to reduce friction while moving the muscles and tendons of the shoulder joints. You will experience limited arm movement and pain when the bursa is inflamed.
You cannot really prevent the condition of cuff tendonitis, however, you can try avoiding repetitive movements that cause tendon strain, while building muscle strength in the shoulder muscles. You should also take care not to land on the shoulder while falling as you play sports.
Although it may be annoyingly painful, most of the time cuff tendonitis is not serious. Most often you can treat the condition at home, however if the pain is severe or relentless you should consider consulting with your physician.
Tom Nicholson spends his time helping sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Please click here to find out more aboutcuff tendonitis.