| Inflammation of a specific or even a general area in | | | | especially in older people tends to inflame these |
| the shoulder joint is called shoulder rotator cuff | | | | tendons and also the attendant muscles, as a result of |
| tendonitis, also often referred to as shoulder bursitis or | | | | which the respective tissues thicken, impeding free |
| the more common 'shoulder stiffness'. Theoretically, | | | | movement. As the spaces between the bones and |
| there is a distinction between tendonitis and bursitis, | | | | tendons narrow, the tendons get 'pinched' when |
| with the former concerning inflammation of the | | | | movement is required to be made and this causes |
| tendons themselves, and the latter referring to the | | | | pain and stiffness. |
| bursa surrounding the tendons getting inflamed. The | | | | Common symptoms associated with this condition |
| shoulder joint is a complex one involving a number of | | | | include pain on the outer side of the arm and shoulder, |
| muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones that attach the | | | | with severity of the pain increasing at night. Movement |
| upper part of the arm to the rest of the body at the | | | | of the arms to the sides and overhead becomes |
| chest or torso. | | | | progressively difficult and may eventually require |
| The top of the arm bone or humerus is attached to | | | | other's help. A proper diagnosis needs to be made |
| the tip of the shoulder or acromion by a number of | | | | before a physiotherapy regimen can be worked out, |
| tendons covered by bursa, all of which together form | | | | though there is also the option of surgery in selected |
| the rotator cuff. Injury or normal wear and tear, | | | | cases. |