Everything You Need to Know About Tendinosis of the Shoulder

Shoulder injuries are extremely common. Tendonitis and tendinosis of the shoulder are a few.

In fact, over 200,000 Americans require shoulder surgery each year to repair their rotator cuffs and an additional 400,000 undergo shoulder surgery related to partial tears or tendonitis.

While there are all kinds of shoulder injuries out there, one of the most common ones is tendinosis.

But, what exactly is tendinosis?

Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about this type of shoulder injury.

What is Tendinosis?

First things first, what exactly is tendinosis?

To understand what tendinosis is, we first need to discuss what tendons are. For those who don’t know, tendons are the thick, fibrous tissues that attach your joints and muscles.

If you suffer from tendinosis, it means you suffer from a chronic condition in which the collagen in your tendons is deteriorating. So, if you have tendinosis of the shoulder, that means your shoulder tendons are losing collagen and deteriorating.

This disease is caused by the chronic overuse of the tendons. And, while it can occur in any tendon, it most commonly occurs in the shoulders, wrists, heels, knees, and elbows.

Tendinosis vs Tendonitis

Many people speak of tendinosis and tendonitis as if they’re the same thing, however, it’s important to understand that the two terms aren’t interchangeable.

Tendinosis is much more serious than tendonitis, as tendonitis is just the acute inflammation of the tendons. With a bit of rest and physical therapy, tendonitis can usually go away within a few days. And, whereas tendinosis is the result of overuse of the tendons, tendonitis is a result of micro-tears in the tendons after the tendon is suddenly overloaded.

Also important to note is that tendinosis doesn’t result in any inflammation.

However, if you leave your tendonitis untreated for too long, it can eventually lead to tendinosis.

Symptoms and Causes

So, how can you tell if you’re suffering from tendinosis?

Here are the top symptoms to be aware of:

• Pain in the affected tendon when you touch it or move it
• Restricted movement or stiffness in the affected tendon
• The appearance of a tender lump

As we discussed earlier, tendinosis is caused by the overuse of the tendon. However, certain people are more susceptible to developing this condition.

Tendinosis typically occurs in people who:

• Play sports or exercise vigorously
• Have poor posture
• Wear improper or poor-fitting footwear
• Have tight calf muscles
• Perform repetitive tasks

Diagnosis and Treatment

Lastly, let’s talk about how tendinosis is diagnosed and treated.

Typically, a doctor can diagnose tendinosis through a physical exam. However, your doctor may also request an MRI, x-ray, or ultrasound.

The following is recommended to treat tendinosis:

• Taking breaks every 15 minutes when engaging in repetitive tasks
• Resting the affected area
• Physical therapy
• Massage
• Using ergonomic desks and keyboards
• Wearing a brace or taping the affected tendon
• Applying ice to the affected area

Tendinosis of the Shoulder: Wrap Up

Now that you know a bit more about tendinosis of the shoulder, it’s time to see a doctor and figure out if this is what you’re suffering from.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a highly-rated chiropractor for your shoulder pain, get in touch with Charschan Chiropractic. We will be happy to help you. We have two convenient locations: North Brunswick, NJ, and Scotch Plains, NJ.