Calcific tendonitis occurs when small calcium deposits form within the tendons of the rotator cuff. It most often affects people between the ages of 30 and 40 and is more common in those with diabetes.
The muscles most often involved are the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, which help stabilize and move the shoulder joint.
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Calcium deposits in the shoulder are not always painful. In some cases, they resolve on their own within 1–4 weeks. Other times, they may be discovered by chance during an X-ray for shoulder pain.
When symptoms do occur, they often include:
Shoulder pain (especially when lifting the arm)
Stiffness or limited movement
Sudden increase in pain during certain phases of the condition
The exact cause is still unclear. Possible contributing factors include:
Minor shoulder trauma
Poor blood supply to the tendon
Age-related changes in tendon tissue
Autoimmune conditions
However, no single theory explains all cases.
The exact cause is still unclear. Possible contributing factors include:
Minor shoulder trauma
Poor blood supply to the tendon
Age-related changes in tendon tissue
Autoimmune conditions
However, no single theory explains all cases.
The condition usually follows a predictable pattern and often resolves without surgery.
No symptoms are present. Changes happen at the cellular level that make the tendon more likely to develop calcium deposits.
Calcium begins to form within the tendon. It looks chalky rather than like solid bone. This stage has three phases:
Resting phase – Calcium is present, but usually without pain. This can last for weeks or months.
Resorptive phase – This is the most painful stage. The body increases blood supply to the area, and the calcium softens to a toothpaste-like texture. Pain often spikes during daily activities or after overuse.
Pain usually fades as the calcium disappears and normal tendon tissue replaces it.
Most patients see a chiropractor during the painful resorptive phase. Others find out they have calcium deposits during an evaluation for unrelated shoulder pain.
Chiropractic care can help:
Reduce pain and inflammation
Restore normal shoulder movement
Improve posture and shoulder mechanics to prevent recurrence
Treatment may include gentle joint mobilization, soft tissue therapy, posture correction, and exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff and supporting muscles.
Shockwave therapy is a modern, non-invasive treatment that is commonly used to help reduce pain, improve movement and support the body’s natural healing process. It is particularly beneficial for people suffering from persistent tendon and soft tissue injuries that have not improved with rest, stretching, exercise or other conservative treatments. At ISIS Chiropractic, shockwave therapy
Chiropractic treatment for rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is the name for the tendons that surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff is the most important group of muscles giving it support.
Many of the top tennis players in the world use Chiropractic regularly, including Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Shoulder pain is a very common complaint in chiropractic practice, affecting almost half of us at some point in our lives as there are many causes of the problem.