Tendinitis—Shoulder Injuries and Disorders

Your shoulder joint is composed of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). Your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body. They can also be unstable because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. To remain in a stable or normal position, the shoulder must be anchored by muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Because your shoulder can be unstable, it can be easily injured. Common problems include

• Sprains and strains
• Dislocations
• Separations
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Torn rotator cuffs
• Frozen shoulder
• Fractures
• Arthritis

Health care providers diagnose shoulder problems by using your medical history, a physical exam, and imaging tests.

Often, the first treatment for shoulder problems is RICE. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Other treatments include exercise and medicines to reduce pain and swelling. If those don’t work, you may need surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Brachial plexopathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Broken collarbone – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Dislocated shoulder – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Frozen shoulder (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Frozen shoulder – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shoulder arthroscopy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shoulder CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shoulder MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shoulder pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Using your shoulder after surgery (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Tendonitis

Tendons are flexible bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. They help your muscles move your bones. Tendinitis is the severe swelling of a tendon.

Tendinitis usually happens after repeated injury to an area such as the wrist or ankle. It causes pain and soreness around a joint. Some common forms of tendinitis are named after the sports that increase their risk. They include tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, pitcher’s shoulder, swimmer’s shoulder, and jumper’s knee.

Doctors diagnose tendinitis with your medical history, a physical exam, and imaging tests. The first step in treatment is to reduce pain and swelling. Rest, wrapping or elevating the affected area, and medicines can help. Ice is helpful for recent, severe injuries. Other treatments include ultrasound, physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgery.

• Achilles tendinitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• De Quervain tendinitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rotator cuff problems (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tendinitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tennis elbow (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tenosynovitis (Medical Encyclopedia)