WHAT IS IT?
A tendon is a fibrous tissue capable of withstanding tension and whose role is to connect muscle to bone. Any excessive straining of a muscle can over time cause a tendinitis, which is an inflammation of the muscle’s tendon. When repetitive movements occur or when a muscle is solicited in an inadequate manner, it can produce microscopic lesions or tears in the fibres and subsequently cause inflammation in the tendon.
The most common shoulder tendinitis occurs at the supraspinatus muscle. Indeed, the tendon of this muscle passes directly under the acromion bone of the scapula and thus may rub against it with repetitive movements of shoulder elevation, creating an inflammation of the tendon.
Symptoms of a shoulder tendinitis include:
- pain at the shoulder which may radiate to the upper arm
- pain will be usually felt with movements of lifting the arm or placing pressure on the shoulder (sidelying sleeping position)
- the pain usually intensifies during the night, and may even interfere with sleep
RISK FACTORS:
- Practice of sports which repeatedly elicit the shoulder muscles i.e. tennis or racket sports players, swimmers and pitchers (football, baseball)
- An absent or improper warm-up before an activity or sport which involves the upper extremities
- A musculature not developed enough for the demanded effort (muscle weakness)
- Practice of an activity too intensely or frequently
- Having a profession that requires an overuse of the shoulder muscles, especially with work tasks requiring frequent overhead work and lifting of the arms above the head (such as painters or window washers)
- An improper work posture or work ergonomics (poorly designed work station)
WHAT DO PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENTS CONSIST OF?
Firstly, physiotherapy treatments will aim to reduce the pain and inflammation present with the use of electrotherapy (such as ultrasound or TENS), ice and proper education regarding the activities that may worsen your condition and thus that should be avoided for the time being. Then, your therapist will use a wide array of manual therapy and muscle relaxation techniques, and will prescribe effective stretching and muscle strengthening exercises to target the cause of the problem (which is frequently related to weak and/or tight structures around the shoulder). A tendinitis which is not treated quickly can create a thinning of the supraspinatus tendon and significantly weaken the muscles of the shoulder, which will take more time to recover.
Therefore, please consult a Forcemedic physiotherapist as soon as possible for a quick recovery!
