Tendonitis of Shoulder/Supraspinatus Tendonitis

Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon, a thick cord that attaches bone to muscle.  Tendonitis is most often caused by repetitive motion or by an injury.  Symptoms include pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area. Pain may gradually build up or be sudden and severe.  In the shoulder the rotator cuff tendons provide stability to the shoulder allowing the muscles in the shoulder to rotate. Every time you raise your arm above your head you use the upper tendon in the rotator cuff: the supraspinatus tendon.  Shoulder tendonitis can involve the supraspinatus tendon or any of the tendons connected to the other muscles of the rotator cuff including the infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.  Acupuncture is excellent as a treatment for tendonitis because of its anti-inflammatory and pain reducing effects on the inflamed tendon(s).  Acupuncture treatments over time can restore the tendon to normal functioning pain-free.