Therapy of an inflammation of the rotator cuff

The treatment of an inflammation in the area of the rotator cuff depends largely on the underlying disease. Without the occurrence of possible complications, conservative treatment is indicated. Painkilling drugs that also have an anti-inflammatory effect are well suited for the treatment of inflammation of the rotator cuff.

It is important that the affected shoulder is immobilized during an acute inflammation. Cooling compresses and cooling pads can be used to relieve the pain and counteract the swelling. Patients who suffer from inflammatory processes on the rotator cuff at regular intervals often require surgical treatment.

This is particularly the case in calcification-related inflammation with calcification foci larger than 1 cm. The injection of a cortisone preparation may be indicated in cases of pronounced inflammation of the rotator cuff to promote the healing process. This is not a routinely performed treatment method.

However, patients with severe or chronic inflammation of the rotator cuff can often benefit from cortisone injections. This involves injecting cortisone locally into the affected shoulder. During an acute inflammation of the rotator cuff, it is important to protect the affected shoulder to ensure healing and the course of the disease.

Once the inflammation has subsided, targeted physiotherapy can be helpful. Exercises with a rope pull that mobilize the shoulders are suitable for this. A simple exercise is to pull the shoulder downwards against resistance.

For this purpose you can use a Theraband and attach it to the top of the door. Another possible exercise is arm swinging with weight. This promotes the formation of synovial fluid in the shoulder joint.

For this, I use a light weight, for example a water bottle, let the arm hang down and swing the shoulder slowly forward and backward. To center the shoulders, you can take a weight in each hand and pull the shoulders upwards. After the exercises you should stretch your shoulder.

To do this you can, for example, support yourself on the wall, pull the shoulder blades backwards and then relax. Tilt your head alternately to one side and stretch your arm to the other side. To immobilize the affected shoulder and relieve pain, you can tap the affected shoulder.

It is important that the tape is applied correctly. For the beginning it can be helpful to have the tape applied by an experienced physiotherapist.When applied correctly, the tape can remain on the skin for up to seven days.

Release tensions,
Relieve pain and
Fix the shoulder.

An inflammation of the rotator cuff requires physical protection and immobilization of the joint.

Depending on the cause, the inflammation heals at different rates. In order to prevent an inflammation, for example bursitis, from becoming chronic, it is important to take the disease seriously at an early stage and let it heal. Normally, an inflammation of the rotator cuff heals within a few weeks.

Only when the patient is completely free of symptoms may he/she resume sports. If the inflammation in the area of the rotator cuff is based on tendon calcification, the therapy is usually carried out using so-called extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT for short). In this procedure, the calcifications in the tendon are exposed to shock waves, which can shatter the calcifications.