Friday, November 13, 2009

What It Is: Cuff Tendonitis - And When Do You Treat It?

By Tom Nicholson

rotator cuff tendonitis is a common type of sports injury that many individuals over 40 years of age may suffer. Common terms for cuff tendonitis are tennis shoulder, pitchers shoulder and swimmers shoulder. Repetitive movements such as those associated with having the arms overhead, such as pitching a baseball can cause this condition.

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 is classified as acute or chronic. Chronic tendonitis can develop over years and afflicts people who perform the same overhead motion repeatedly, like weight lifters and athletes. Acute cuff tendonitis is the result of an injury that stretches, tears, or ruptures the tendons in your shoulder.

A general weakness of the area, intensifying pain, intense nightly pain while resting as well as the inability of lifting the arm over the head or out to the side are all symptoms of chronic cuff tendonitis. Acute cuff tendonitis may result in muscle spasms and severe pain. Bruising can occur when the tendons bleed.

The damage of cuff tendonitis and its severity will determine the best treatment. However, you can use ibuprofen to reduce inflammation as well as ice pack applications for swelling and pain, to treat the condition at home. Surgical repair may be required for tendon tears. The tendon must have time for rest in order to heal for either acute or chronic conditions.

Physical therapy can help to prevent and treat tendonitis. You may also need strengthening exercises to help repair rotator cuff muscles. Steroids injections into the joint may help to relieve the pain and swelling of the shoulder to regain your full range of motion, if exercising becomes too painful.

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.

Cuff tendonitis is not something that you can prevent, although you should avoid any repetitive movement that may cause tendon strain. Take the time to build the strength in the muscles of the shoulder. Be careful not to land on your shoulder while playing sports or taking a misfortunate falls.

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.

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