Tuesday, November 17, 2009

What You Should Know About Cuff Tendonitis And When You Should 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.

Cuff tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons in the shoulder area. These tendons become inflamed from misuse. Sometimes the tendons can tear. You do not have to be a sports buff to get cuff tendonitis. Sometimes you can injure the tendon by simply turning over in bed or landing on your shoulder when you fall.

Cuff tendonitis may be classifiable as chronic or acute. Repetitive overhead activities may cause the development of chronic tendonitis over the years, such as the movements of athletes and weightlifters. Injuries that over stretches, tears or rupture the shoulder tendons may result in acute tendonitis.

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.

Treatment for cuff tendonitis depends upon how severe the damage is. You may be able to treat the injury at home by using ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and ice packs to relieve pain and swelling. Tears in the tendon may require surgical repair. In either case, the tendon must be allowed to rest in order to heal.

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.

Cuff tendonitis may call for various types of treatments to be effective. It is possible to regain the normal use of your arms and shoulders as well as the ability to resume your daily activities. However, for the elderly, severe tendon tears may take longer to heal fully.

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.

Luckily, most of the time, cuff tendonitis is not serious although it may be painful and annoying. Many times, it can be treated at home. However, you should call your doctor if your shoulder pain is severe or persistent.

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