Shoulder Tendonitis Is a Common Overuse Injury in Sports

A very common overuse injury in sports such as swimming, throwing basketballs as well as tennis in which the arm is used to make overhead motions is called shoulder tendonitis. Most often, the pain is felt at the tip of the shoulder and radiates down the arm and may occur when the arm is lifted overhead or is twisted. Severe and extreme cases of shoulder tendonitis may cause the pain to be continuous and may even result in waking up at night from sleep.

Structure of the Shoulder and Reasons for Shoulder Tendonitis

The shoulder’s structure consists of a ball and socket joint, and the tendons of the rotator cuff, (which connects the humerus to the muscles involved in lifting the arm as well as the associated bursa, which are friction-reducing membranes,) move back and forth through a very tight archway of bone as well as ligament known as the coracoacromial arch. On raising the arm, the archway is compressed against the tendons and bursa and repetitive use of the arm results in the tendons and bursa becoming frayed, and thus causes inflammation.

Shoulder tendonitis can occur because of performing activities such as golf, throwing or overhead lifting, and when these activities are performed repetitively, stress inside the rotator cuff leads to irritation, bursting or tendons getting frayed and will result in shoulder pain as well as weakness in the joint. As with other forms of tendonitis, shoulder tendonitis is best treated with taking complete rest and the patient should avoid activities that result in pain, more so if the pain gets worse the following day. One can also use ice bags to the shoulder at least twice in a day for twenty minutes, and also applying ice after any activity that causes aggravation of the shoulder pain is recommended.

Medication in the form of anti-inflammatory or pain medications such as Advil and Aleve will help to relieve the pain as well as lessen the inflammation. In addition, the patient may take an injection of cortisone with lidocaine into the shoulder bursa, which will also be helpful in providing relief. It is also recommended to get physical therapy and exercise to strengthen the shoulder and also help prevent a recurrence. Surgery may be a final resort for treating shoulder tendonitis and can be performed to treat the condition when it seems to be becoming chronic, or in case there is a tear in the rotator cuff.

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