What is rotator cuff tendonitis?
Within the muscular structure of the shoulder is the rotator cuff.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder, allowing good functioning of the joint. The rotator cuff allows shoulder mobility, in addition to provides firmness and stability, which prevents the shoulder from coming off.
When tendonitis occurs in the rotator cuff it loses its firmness. One of the main causes of rotator cuff tendinitis is age., being a much more common condition in older people than in young people.
Symptoms of tendonitis
Rotator cuff tendinitis can have two symptoms characteristics: severe pain in the shoulder a loss of range of motion.
The pain that occurs with rotator cuff tendonitis can present in different ways depending on the different phases of the injury. There are different types of pain:
- Radiating pain: It is a dull pain in men, it is very intense, it can also extend to the elbow, although it never reaches the hand.
- night pain: This is one of the typical pains in rotator cuff tendonitis. The pain prevents you from falling asleep, especially if you try to sleep on the affected shoulder.
- Pain when raising the arm: This pain prevents you from carrying out daily tasks such as combing your hair, drying your hair, or lifting weights.
Loss of strengthOne of the main functions of the rotator cuff is to provide strength to the shoulder. When tendonitis occurs, weakness is noticeable.
Causes of tendonitis
Rotator cuff tendonitis can be caused by a major shoulder injury. Although the most common causes of this condition are the wear and tear of the tendon as a result of age, sports or work activities that are performed above the plane of the eyes. This type of activity causes the tendon to become inflamed, compressed and worn out.
There are some risk factor's that promote rotator cuff tendonitis:
- Genetic component, in some cases having a family history with rotator cuff injuries has shown that you are more likely to suffer from the condition.
- Risk professions. Having a profession that requires great effort when moving your arms above your head can damage the rotator cuff over time.
- Age It is the main cause of this condition, since the chances of suffering from it increase as you age, most cases occur in people over 60 years of age.
How is rotator cuff tendonitis treated?
Existing treatments
To prevent the evolution of rotator cuff tendonitis, it is important put yourself in the hands of a professional to advise us and tell us how we should treat ourselves.
Some of the things that are usually recommended are.
- exercises physiotherapy. These exercises help strengthen the shoulder muscles, in addition to helping you stretch.
- Cold application to the shoulder, to calm the pain.
- Avoid doing activities that require a lot of shoulder movement.
Take anti-inflammatories, to reduce swelling of the rotator cuff.
Benefits of our treatments
- calm the pain
- Strengthening shoulder muscles
- Reduces swelling
- Improves the quality of life of patients
In Wellness Retirement We care about our patients and that is why every day we have specialists so that the service is of quality and adapts to the needs of all of them.
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