Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
July 10, 2007
What is shoulder Tendonitis ?
Shoulder pain is a very common injury to get. Most of the time we may think we have over stretched or pulled a muscle. Many patients will got to see a doctor about the problem to be on the safe side anyway. A common diagnosis that doctors give to patients is shoulder bursitis, or a shoulder tendonitis as it is more commonly known. If you do go to see a doctor about the injury you have in the shoulder, they will often explain that identifying the problem you have but that will not be important as all of the treatments available are the same. How very true this statement is. Shoulder bursitis and rotator cuff tendonitis are the same but they are called different names. Both words mean that there is an inflammation of a particular area within the shoulder joint that might be or is causing the problems that are described. There is a very good terminology of the symptoms. This is called ‘impingement syndrome’. Impingement syndrome’ basically occurs when there is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and the bursa that is surrounding the tendons.
Where is the problem that causes shoulder Tendonitis ?
Several bones, muscles and ligaments contribute to the joint in the shoulder. It is a very complex joint mind you. In most cases the tendons slide naturally around in this space. In some people’s body this space becomes very narrow for the normal motion that should occur and the tendons and bursa become inflamed. The inflammation that occurs leads to a thickening of the tendons and the bursa, and this in turn contributes to the loss of space in this location. Finally, this space becomes so narrow that too accommodate the tendons and the bursa, and each time the structures move between the bones they pinch-this is the impingement of the bones.