Infraspinatus Tendinitis

Symptoms Checklist:

• Your pain developed gradually
• It is very sore
• The pain is in your shoulder and down your arm
• There is no pain when the arm is at rest
• Only selected arm movements are extremely painful
• You have pain when you lie on that side
• It hurts most when you try putting your hand in your back pocket

Infraspinatus Tendinitis

Tendon attaches muscle to bone and is the focus for the “pull” of the muscle.  When you damage it the muscle pulls part of the tendon away from the bone and the attachment point (or focus) becomes frayed and sore. While the tendons themselves are enormously strong (half the tensile strength of steel), the attachment to the bone is usually weaker and first to give.  Tendinitis is very common at the shoulder.  Only selected arm/shoulder movements hurt, the worst being putting your hand in your back pocket.

Physical Therapy/Osteopathy and Infraspinatus Tendinitis

In tendinitis, some of the many fibres that make up the tendon snap and the broken ends curl back leaving a gap. Tendon grows slowly, so it’s place is taken by scar tissue which does not have as good “pulling power” as does tendon.  The damaged fibres then re-attach themselves by forming scar tissue.  Unlike fractures, where the repair is better than the original, the quality of repair for tendons can be poor.  This is caused because of the formation of scar tissue, which sticks to the surrounding tissues and causes adhesions.  These damage the surrounding musculature and restrict circulation -- a vital part of the healing process.  The result is that the tendon is more likely to injure again as a result of the poor quality of the mend.  The Physical Therapist will work to correctly align the damaged and repairing fibres, break down the scar tissue, gently stretch the shortened tendons and muscles, prevent the formation of adhesions, increase circulation and improve the quality of repair.  Because the blood supply to tendons is poor, the speed of recovery is also slow.  Treatment not only speeds repair and recovery, but can dramatically improve the quality of repair.

Tags: Upper Body, Shoulder, Arms and Legs, Tendons, Muscle sprain or strain, Neck / Shoulder problems, Sports Injuries, Tendinitis