| Physicians report that the rotator cuff tendonitis is the | | | | Rotator cuff injuries often present as dull aching in the |
| type most commonly complained about. The rotator | | | | shoulder area that may extend down the arm or |
| cuff consists of several different tendons; the | | | | across the chest. Lifting the arm, or extending it |
| supraspinatus is the one most affected by tendonitis. | | | | sideways, may produce severe pain in the shoulder |
| This is the tendon that connects the top of the arm | | | | joint. Sleeping will become very difficult as the weight |
| bone to the shoulder blade. | | | | placed on the shoulder when lying prone is very |
| Tendonitis in the shoulder is normally caused by a | | | | uncomfortable and painful. |
| repetitive motion injury. The repeated overhead | | | | As the injury progresses, the pain of moving the arm |
| motions will cause inflammation and irritation in the | | | | may become so bad that the patient feels they must |
| shoulder joint and the pain caused by this inflammation | | | | keep the arm still to avoid the pain caused by |
| can be considered to very quite unbearable. Some | | | | movement. This will cause the rotator cuff to become |
| sports are more prone to rotator cuff tendonitis than | | | | very stiff, and may mimic a form of paralysis. At this |
| others. | | | | point, rotator cuff treatment will be necessary in the |
| Tennis and baseball seem to be the biggest culprits. | | | | form of physical therapy to ensure a restoration of a |
| Likewise, construction trades have higher incidences of | | | | complete range of motion to the affected arm. |
| shoulder injuries or problems than other occupations. | | | | The patient will most likely experience weakness in the |
| Most affected are carpenters, painters, and welder. | | | | arm with injury, along with redness, bruising, and some |
| Tendonitis in the shoulder appears most often in the | | | | swelling, although most of the swelling in the joint will be |
| side of the body that the dominant hand appears on. | | | | internal. |