How to Rehabilitate Shoulder Tendinitis

Shoulder tendinitis occurs in the rotator cuff area near the top of the shoulder. According to the article "Rotator Cuff Injury" by the staff at MayoClinic.com, rotator cuff tendinitis causes inflammation in four muscles and tendons that extend into the shoulder area. Initial treatment usually includes rest, ice, heat, medication and massage. Subsequently, rehabilitation exercises are used to help acclimate the shoulder to activity again.

Things You'll Need

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve)
• Ice
• Ice pack
• Heating pad
• Space for exercising

Show More

Instructions

Rehabilitation of Shoulder Tendinitis

• 1

  Stop all physical exercise activity for a few days. Take two ibuprofen or naproxen every four to six hours until the inflammation and pain are gone.

• 2

  Put ice in an ice pack. Strap the ice pack to your shoulder so that the ice is compressed against your source of pain. Keep the ice in place for up to 20 minutes. Repeat ice treatment every three or four hours until initial inflammation has subsided. Subsequently, use a heating pad on your shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes, several times per day. Continue using the heating pad until the inflammation and pain have completely subsided.

• 3

  When the inflammation is under control, massage your rotator cuff several times per day, for five to ten minutes each time.

• 4

  Perform the following exercises daily: While standing, bend forward with your legs slightly bent. Slowly relax your affected shoulder and arm, then start swinging your arm clockwise in a large circle without touching the floor. Do this for one minute, then reverse direction and do it for another minute. Next, sit in a chair, cross your injured arm in front of your body, grab the back of your elbow and pull your arm toward your chest. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds, then relax. Repeat three to five times.

• 5

  Finally, while standing with your arms at each side, shrug your shoulders upward and squeeze your trapezius muscle for two to five seconds. Lower your arms and shoulders the opposite way, and squeeze your shoulders downward. Hold for two to five seconds. Do 10 total repetitions each way.