What Are the Treatments for Distal Supraspinatus?

The distal supraspinatus tendon, which connects the shoulder's supraspinatus muscle to the upper arm via the rotator cuff, can suffer a number of common injuries, most of which include some sort of tendinitis (strain), impingement (compression/rubbing of the tendon between arm and shoulder bones) or rotator cuff tear.

Cold and Heat

• At the onset of pain, ice may be applied to the shoulder to reduce inflammation and swelling. Alternating ice with a heat source is considered optional, though application of heat helps boost circulation that has been slowed by the cold.

Rest/Immobilization

• Rest may be the single most important form of treatment for injured supraspinatus tendons and muscles. Many if not most of the active people who suffer minor rotator cuff injuries aggravate their injuries by returning to full use of the joint before the tendon has had sufficient time to heal.

Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation

• Various stretching and motion exercises can help an injured distal supraspinatus tendon regain strength.

Injection

• Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to alleviate arthritis and impingement-related symptoms.

Ultrasound Therapy

• A more experimental approach to rotator cuff treatment involves using ultrasound to minimize or break down incipient scar tissue while keeping residual elasticity to a minimum by keeping the tendon "working" on a passive level during rest.

Surgery

• Younger people with healthy shoulder muscles who suffer a severe or full distal supraspinatus tear may seek surgical repair to regain full use of the shoulder. Healthy tendons are easier to repair surgically than older or previously injured tissue, and surgery is less likely to be effective on an older patient.