Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

The four rotator cuff muscles arise from the scapula (shoulder-blade) and connect to the head of the humerus (arm bone). There is an increased risk of tendinopathy in athletes / people involved in repetitive overhead movements and likelihood of injury increases with age

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Additional Information

Home Treatments

Use of anti-inflammatories (consult GP prior) may contribute to pain reduction
Apply ice locally
Home exercises as suggested by your physiotherapist
Avoidance of aggravating activities (such as repetitive overhead)

Professional Medical Treatment

Manual mobilisation of shoulder to enhance range of motion
Soft tissue therapy to enhance shoulder mechanics
Taping for postural feedback and to offload tendons
Some electrotherapy techniques may benefit (especially in cases of tendon calcification)
It is beneficial to try conservative exercise-based approach prior to any other management. If not responding, a corticosteroid injection can assist with pain and improving function. It is important to be mindful that side-effects are associated (including tendon break-down) and this approach has a poor long-term outlook.
Last resort is surgical management

Physical Therapy Exercises

Initially stretching of certain muscles to normalise shoulder mechanics and range
Active range of motion exercises
Rotator cuff strengthening (involving a lot of theraband rotation exercises in progressive ranges of abduction)
Eccentric exercises for rotator cuff (strengthening in a lengthened position to imitate sport-specific demands)
Strengthening muscles that alter shoulder position to optimise shoulder mechanics