Rotator Cuff Tendinitis (Shoulder Impingement)

The most common physical objection and illness that arise is the shoulder pain to many. It is because your shoulder has many joints combined with muscles and tendons which allow a huge range of movement in your arm. Due to different structures that cover the shoulder, it is at risk for many problems and mainly the rotator cuff is a common cause of soreness in the shoulder. Athletes who always perform sports extending their arm develop rotator cuff tendinitis for which the condition is referred as shoulder impingement.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms if not realized and treated may worsen the situation. The symptoms include:

  • Pain with swelling in the front of the shoulder and the side of the arm.
  • Pain caused by raising or lowering the arm
  • Ticking sound while raising the arm
  • Feeling of stiffness
  • Feeling pain while waking up from sleep
  • Pain while reaching hand behind the back and
  • Loss of strength and mobility in the affected shoulder.

Treatment for Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

The treatment is to reduce the pain and let the person feel normal in function. When planning the treatment, your physician will consider your level of activities, age and health history. In most of the cases, the initial treatment starts with a non surgical process which takes many weeks and months to experience movement in the shoulder and a good feel of course. To make lots of improvements, physical therapy is advised as the stretching exercises help to improve the range of motion in the shoulder which is very helpful. Additionally, certain medications re advised to relieve the pain and feel improvement.

Additional treatment

In addition to physical therapy and medication process, surgery is also advised as sometimes non surgical treatments prove weak results. In such cases, your physician may advise for a surgery which is accomplished through Arthroscopy, which involves 2-3 small cuts around the shoulder through which various instruments are inserted to repair the damaged tissue. Along with surgery, complete rest with physical therapy is advised to get back to normal work and restore the strength of motion in the shoulder.