Rotator cuff tendinitis is a condition that is twofold. One aspect of the condition involves tendinitis, which is the irritation of a tendon. The other aspect is tendinopathy, which is a type of tendon injury that commonly describes a tear in the tendon.

Together, they form rotator cuff tendinitis, which occurs when the rotator cuff tendons are the muscles that are inflamed and injured.

How does a person come down with such a painful condition?

The rotator cuff holds the head of your arm bone and forms the shoulder joint with the shoulder blade. The tendons located in this area are the muscles that are typically being overused and are also the ones that become irritated and inflamed.

Usually, rotator cuff tendinitis is related to a sport or job that requires you to repetitively move your arm overhead. As the arm and shoulder is used in this repetitive motion, the tendons become inflamed and you develop tendinitis. As the tendons are continuously used in this manner, the tendinitis worsens and may tear, causing tendinopathy.

Who does rotator cuff tendinitis commonly affect? This condition is most common in people who are 40 years or older. It actually accounts for about 29% of the shoulder complaints that people in this age group experience.

There are several sports that are known to cause rotator cuff tendinitis, as they all involve repetitive arm motion. These include:

– Tennis
– Baseball – most commonly in pitchers
– Swimming
– Lifting weights overhead

If you’re in the 40-year-old age range and experiencing shoulder pain or swelling, rotator cuff tendinitis could certainly be the culprit to your pain. Pain may occur in the shoulder when you raise your arm overhead and you may experience weakness in the arm or shoulder during simple daily tasks, such as brushing your hair or reaching for an object on a shelf. If you feel this pain occurring, it may be time to take a break from practicing your fastball or tennis serve.

You’re going to have to be patient while waiting for this type of injury to heal, because the more you use that arm or shoulder, the longer it’s going to take to mend. Because of this, many men and women suffer recurring injury to this area, so keep in mind that if you want to be pain-free, you may have to make a few chances in your sport of choice.