Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

  • Pain and weakness with shoulder external rotation and elevation

  • Rotator cuff is 4 muscles that connect from the scapula to the head of the humerus and all provide strength and stability during shoulder motion

  • Increased incidence in people that participate in overhead activities (baseball/volleyball) such as repetitive throwing, painting or carpentry 

    • Younger person → usually due to a specific injury that forces the arm away from the body

      • Fall or repeated movements that stress the muscles beyond their workload capacity (high volume throwing)

    • Increases with age

  • Pain described as dull/achy

  • Signs/Symptoms:

    • Pain with overhead reaching, reaching behind the back, lifting, and sleeping on the affected side

    • Elevation and abduction of shoulder, unable to reach over 90 degrees of abduction (bringing the shoulder away from the body)

    • Night pain

    • Pain may refer to the side of the shoulder and upper arm 

      • Pain may also radiate to the back or front of the shoulder depending on which muscles are involved