Shoulder Tendinitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

Shoulder tendinitis is one of the most common conditions in physiotherapy. It can affect both athletes and sedentary individuals.

What is Shoulder Tendinitis?

Tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon, often caused by repetitive movements or overload. In the shoulder, it mainly affects the rotator cuff.

Main Causes

1. Repetitive movements at work or in sports
2. Poor posture prolonged at a computer
3. Sports overload without sufficient warm-up
4. Muscle weakness of the shoulder stabilizers
5. Age: tendons lose elasticity after 40

Recognizing the Symptoms

• Pain when lifting the arm
• Nighttime pain, especially when lying on the shoulder
• Morning stiffness
• Loss of arm strength
• Clicking sounds during certain movements

3 Prevention Exercises

External Rotation with Elastic Band

Elbow against the body, pull the band outward. 3 sets of 15 repetitions.

Light Lateral Raise

With a light weight (0.5-1 kg), raise the arm to the side up to horizontal. 3 sets of 12.

Pectoral Minor Stretch

Place your forearm against a wall and turn your body away. Hold 30 seconds.

When to Consult?

See a physiotherapist if:

• Pain has lasted more than 2 weeks
• You can no longer lift your arm
• Pain wakes you at night
• Exercises worsen your symptoms

A physiotherapy assessment will identify the exact cause and set up appropriate treatment.