Symptoms
- Pain on the outer side of the shoulder, sometimes spreading down the arm
- Pain when raising the arm, combing your hair, dressing or reaching up
- Night pain, especially when lying on that side
- Loss of strength in some movements
Diagnosis and treatment
Examination and ultrasound in the consulting room assess the rotator cuff tendons, rule out a tear and show whether the bursa is inflamed.
The cornerstone of treatment is a targeted therapeutic exercise programme that strengthens the cuff and improves shoulder-blade control. To control pain and make the exercises possible, an ultrasound-guided injection into the subacromial bursa may be added and, in persistent tendinopathy, biological therapies such as PRP may be considered.
Frequently asked questions
Is it the same as a rotator cuff tear?
Not necessarily. Most cases are tendinopathies without a tear; ultrasound helps tell them apart.
Is an injection enough?
An injection relieves pain, but lasting recovery depends mainly on exercise. That is why they are combined.