How an Osteopath Can Help with Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis: How an Osteopath Can Help Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can make everyday activities such as reaching overhead, lifting, dressing, sleeping and exercising uncomfortable. One common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff tendinitis, which can develop when the tendons of the rotator cuff become irritated and painful.
At Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal, our osteopaths can assess your shoulder, neck, upper back and surrounding muscles to identify contributing factors and develop an individualised rehabilitation program.
If you’re experiencing rotator cuff pain, shoulder pain, weakness or difficulty lifting your arm, understanding the cause of your symptoms can be an important first step towards recovery.
What Is Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that help stabilise and move the shoulder joint.
These muscles are:
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Teres minor
Subscapularis
Rotator cuff tendinitis occurs when one or more of these tendons becomes irritated. Shoulder pain may develop gradually and can sometimes become worse with repeated overhead activities, lifting or certain sporting movements.
Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain can also be associated with weakness and reduced shoulder function.
What Does Rotator Cuff Tendinitis Feel Like?
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but common symptoms may include:
Pain at the front or side of the shoulder
Pain when lifting the arm
Pain reaching overhead
Discomfort reaching behind your back
Shoulder weakness
Pain during gym exercises
Difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder
Reduced shoulder movement
Pain when playing sports involving throwing or overhead movements
Shoulder pain can have many different causes, so an accurate assessment is important before starting a rehabilitation program.
How Can an Osteopath Help Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?
An osteopath may assess more than just the painful area.
Your shoulder works together with your neck, upper back, shoulder blade and rib cage, so restrictions or weakness in these areas may influence how your shoulder moves.
Your osteopath may assess:
Shoulder range of motion
Rotator cuff strength
Shoulder blade movement
Upper-back mobility
Neck movement
Posture and movement patterns
Previous injuries
Work and sporting activities
Training load
Treatment and rehabilitation can then be tailored to your individual symptoms and goals.
1. Shoulder Mobility Exercises
Maintaining comfortable shoulder movement can be an important part of rehabilitation.
One simple exercise is a pendulum exercise.
How to perform a shoulder pendulum
Stand next to a bench or table.
Support yourself with your unaffected arm.
Allow your affected arm to hang comfortably towards the floor.
Gently move your arm forwards and backwards.
You can then perform small circular movements.
Continue for approximately 30 seconds.
Repeat 2–3 times.
The movement should remain gentle and comfortable.
As your symptoms improve, your osteopath may introduce more active shoulder mobility exercises.
2. Isometric Shoulder External Rotation
The rotator cuff plays an important role in stabilising the shoulder.
An isometric external rotation exercise can be used as an early strengthening exercise when appropriate.
How to perform it
Stand next to a wall or door frame.
Bend your elbow to approximately 90 degrees.
Keep your elbow tucked gently against your side.
Place the back of your hand against the wall.
Gently push your hand into the wall without actually moving your arm.
Hold for approximately 5–10 seconds.
Relax.
Repeat 8–10 times.
Start with a gentle contraction and gradually increase the intensity as tolerated.
Your osteopath or physiotherapist can determine whether this exercise is appropriate for your particular shoulder condition.
3. Scapular Retraction Exercise
Your shoulder blade provides an important foundation for shoulder movement.
Strengthening the muscles that control the shoulder blade can form part of a broader shoulder rehabilitation program.
How to perform it
Sit or stand with your back straight.
Allow your shoulders to relax.
Gently draw your shoulder blades backwards and slightly downwards.
Avoid shrugging your shoulders.
Hold for 3–5 seconds.
Relax.
Repeat 10–15 times.
The movement should be controlled rather than forceful.
As your strength improves, your rehabilitation program can progress towards more challenging resistance exercises.
Should You Stop Exercising With Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?
Not necessarily.
In many cases, completely stopping all activity is unnecessary. However, activities that significantly aggravate your symptoms may need to be modified temporarily.
Depending on your symptoms, this could mean reducing:
Heavy overhead pressing
Repetitive overhead work
Throwing
Heavy bench pressing
Painful lifting movements
High-volume shoulder exercises
The goal is generally to find an appropriate level of activity that allows you to maintain movement and gradually build shoulder capacity without repeatedly aggravating your symptoms.
How Long Does Rotator Cuff Tendinitis Take to Recover?
Recovery time varies depending on the individual, the severity and duration of symptoms, activity levels and contributing factors.
A gradual rehabilitation program can help restore:
Shoulder movement
Rotator cuff strength
Shoulder blade control
Upper-body strength
Confidence using the shoulder
Ability to return to work, exercise and sport
Rather than focusing only on reducing pain, rehabilitation can also focus on improving the shoulder’s capacity to tolerate the activities you need and want to perform.
When Should You See an Osteopath for Shoulder Pain?
Consider having your shoulder assessed if:
Your shoulder pain has persisted for several weeks
You have difficulty lifting your arm
Your shoulder feels weak
Shoulder pain is affecting your sleep
You have difficulty exercising
Your pain is interfering with work
Your symptoms are getting worse
You have experienced a shoulder injury
Sudden severe shoulder pain, significant weakness following an injury, obvious deformity or an inability to move the arm should be assessed promptly by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Osteopath for Rotator Cuff Tendinitis in Hoppers Crossing
If you’re looking for an osteopath for shoulder pain in Hoppers Crossing, the team at Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal can assess your shoulder and develop an individualised treatment and rehabilitation plan.
Our clinic helps people from Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Williams Landing, Laverton, Altona Meadows and Truganina with a range of musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder pain and sports injuries.
Whether your shoulder pain has developed gradually from repetitive activity or started following exercise or sport, an assessment can help identify factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Shoulder Pain Treatment Near Werribee, Point Cook and Tarneit
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Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal is conveniently located for patients throughout Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal
Address: 1/30 Powell Drive, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029
Phone: 03 7038 0863
If shoulder pain is limiting your movement, exercise or everyday activities, book an assessment with our osteopathy team to determine an appropriate treatment and rehabilitation approach.
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