Rotator cuff tendinitis

　　Rotator cuff tendinitis often occurs in repetitive movements that require extreme abduction of the shoulder joint (such as baseball, freestyle swimming, backstroke, butterfly stroke, weightlifting, racket sports). When the upper limb is extended forward, the humeral head collides with the acromion and coracoid ligament, causing damage to the supraspinatus tendon. Chronic stimulation can lead to subacromial bursitis, aseptic inflammation, and tendon erosion. Acute massive violence can cause rotator cuff rupture.

　　Patients with rotator cuff tendinitis often experience a continuous worsening of the condition if they do not rest or receive treatment, as excessive movement in the affected area can cause the disease to worsen continuously. In the later stage, the main complications include chronic swelling (gravity edema), muscle atrophy, avulsion fractures, joint stiffness, and ligament laxity.

　　In the early stage of rotator cuff tendinitis, pain occurs only when the upper arm is raised above the head and actively abducted. Later, pain may also occur during extension of the arm to shake hands. Generally, pain occurs when pushing objects forward, while there is no pain or only mild pain when pulling things. When the upper arm is straightened and the shoulder joint is internally rotated and abducted, the rotator cuff is tender, especially when the affected limb is higher than the level of the shoulder joint (if the affected limb is lower than the side of the body, there is no tenderness). The internal adduction of the affected limb across the chest can also cause severe pain. The decrease in shoulder abduction muscle strength is usually due to the atrophic atrophy of the deltoid muscle.

　　The main preventive and health care measures for rotator cuff tendinitis include the following:

　　1. Vitamin supplementation is beneficial for the healing of tendinitis. Take 1000 milligrams of vitamin C and 10,000 international units of beta-carotene (vitamin A) daily. Avoid movements that may cause joint sprains.

　　2. Preparatory warm-up exercises should be performed before any exercise, especially for athletes.

　　3. If tendinitis is caused by work and it is necessary to continue working, stretch the lower body before and after work. Take a 5-10 minute break for the injured area every hour. Avoid involving the injured area during work.

　　To exclude the possibility of bone injury in rotator cuff tendinitis, X-ray examination should be performed in cases where diagnosis is difficult. Magnetic resonance imaging can help determine the severity of the tendinous injury. Although MRI cannot indicate partial tears of the rotator cuff, it can show complete tears, which is of certain significance for differential diagnosis.

　　The diet for rotator cuff tendinitis should be light, with an emphasis on vegetables and fruits, a reasonable dietary balance, and attention to adequate nutrition. It is appropriate to eat more animal blood, eggs, fish, shrimp, soy products, potatoes, beef, chicken, and beef 'tendon' meat, which are rich in histidine, arginine, nucleic acids, and collagen. Patients should eat less spicy, greasy, and indigestible foods.

　　The injured tendons should be given adequate rest and the exercise of the muscles on the healthy side of the shoulder should be strengthened. Patients should avoid pushing actions and instead perform pulling activities (when there is no pain). If the injury is particularly severe, with a complete tear of the rotator cuff, or if the pain does not disappear within 6 months, surgical treatment is required.