Physiotherapy: An Effective Treatment for Supraspinatus Tendinopathy

Introduction

Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a typical and debilitating condition that turns out to be more pervasive after middle age and is a typical reason for shoulder pain. The supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder’s rotator cuff is affected and these affected tendons of the musculoskeletal framework proceed toward degeneration.

Causes

Supraspinatus Tendinopathy is generally attributed to resistive overuse and repetitive stress of the shoulder and its surrounding regions during certain occupational activities or sports. Broadly speaking, the causes of this condition can be summarised under two heads – extrinsic and intrinsic factors.

1. The extrinsic factors can be further subdivided into two areas – primary and secondary impingement.
2. Primary impingement includes factors such as increased subacromial loading, trauma (direct or repetitive), and overhead activities.
3. Secondary impingement includes factors such as rotator cuff overload or soft tissue imbalance, eccentric muscle overload, glenohumeral laxity, bicep tendon laxity, glenoid labral lesions, muscle imbalance, scapular dyskinesia, posterior capsular tightness and trapezius paralysis.
4. The intrinsic factors, on the other hand, include acromial morphology, acromioclavicular arthrosis, coracoacromial ligament hypertrophy, coracoid impingement, subacromial bursal thickening and fibrosis, prominent humeral greater tuberosity, impaired cuff vascularity, aging, primary tendinopathy, intratendinous issues, articular side partial-thickness tears, and calcific tendinopathy.

Physiotherapy Treatment

The treatment of supraspinatus tendinopathy comprises of various progressive exercises. There are three phases of treatment: Immobilization, passive/assisted range of motion, progressive resistance exercises; in the acute and the recovery stages.

1.  Acute Phase

The objectives of the acute phase are to alleviate torment and irritation, avert muscle decay without compounding the torment, restore non-painful scope of movement, and standardize the arthrokinematics of the shoulder complex. This incorporates a time of dynamic rest, dispensing with any movement that may cause an expansion in side effects.

Range-of-motion exercises may incorporate pendulum activities and indication constrained, dynamic helped scope of-movement works out. Joint preparation might be incorporated with substandard, front, and back floats in the scapular plane. Fortifying activities ought to be isometric in nature and work on the outside rotators, interior rotators, biceps, deltoid, and scapular stabilizers. Neuromuscular control practices additionally might be started. Three different PNF patterns can be used. Further, stretching exercises must be incorporated which will involve a 3-time repetition for a period of 30 seconds each.

In addition, therapeutic Kinesio taping and exercises; ultrasonic laser therapy; have shown to be effective in treating Supraspinatus Tendinopathy patients. They have an advantageous impact in diminishing pain intensity, reducing the disability and improving shoulder ROM in chronic subacromial impingement syndrome of the shoulder.

Modalities that likewise might be utilized as an aide incorporate cryotherapy, hyperthermia, transcutaneous electrical nerve incitement and ultrasound. Concentrated ultrasound treatment has been appeared to build calcium resorption, but this requires frequent visit treatment that may not generally be viable.

2.  Recovery Phase

Additionally, the physiotherapist may recommend self-exercise during the recovery phase. These may include isotonic resistance exercises involving the supraspinatus, internal rotators, external rotators, prone extension, horizontal abduction, forward flexion to 90°, upright abduction to 90°, shoulder shrugs, rows, push-ups, press-ups, pull-downs, upper extremity ergometry exercises, trunk exercises, and general cardiovascular conditioning for endurance. This aims at standardize scope of movement and shoulder arthrokinematics, perform manifestation free exercises of day by day living, and enhance neuromuscular control and muscle quality.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy has been proven to be the most effective for the purposes of rehabilitation. But this does not mean that the other procedures are to be foregone entirely. One should consult their doctor for proper treatment. Physiotherapy including laser therapy and Kinesio taping works as a complementary treatment to other forms of treatments which generally include medicines and surgeries.

Please note that Evaphysiocare has been recommended as the best physiotherapy clinic in Noida by many Supraspinatus Tendinopathy patients in Delhi NCR.