SHOULDER ROTATOR CUFF TENDINITIS

Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendinitis is a common cause of shoulder pain in Singapore, often linked to repetitive movements from household chores, desk work, or sports, or simply age-related wear and tear. It occurs when a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder becomes inflamed.

At Singapore Paincare, our specialists provide minimally-invasive treatments that relieve pain safely and effectively—offering an alternative to long-term medication or surgery, often with little to no downtime. Our goal is to help you get back to your daily life with comfort and confidence.

What Are the Causes of Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

Rotator Cuff Tendinitis can come from many different factors, ranging from repetitive strain to acute trauma.

Rotator Cuff Tendinitis is typically caused by repetitive actions, injury, and a lack of movement. It is the slow, progressive development of shoulder pain.

Repetitive Actions

Repeated overhead movements and activities such as lifting, washing cars or windows, painting, or throwing can gradually inflame the tendons over time.

Injury

A direct trauma or acute injury to the shoulder can trigger inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and bursa. This is the most common cause among children, adolescents, and adults.

Lack of Movement

In elderly patients, insufficient shoulder movement and exercise can lead to stiffness and weakness, making the tendons and bursa more susceptible to inflammation when making overhead movements.

What Are the Symptoms of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

Rotator Cuff Tendinitis symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe, daily limitations. If your pain persists, worsens, or restricts your ability to perform simple actions, it’s best to have it assessed by a shoulder pain specialist.

Pain : Pain may occur at the front of the shoulder and the sides of the arm, and it may even radiate down to the hand. Dull pain also lingers during activity and rest and typically worsens when raising the arm or performing overhead actions. It may be difficult to differentiate if the pain is caused by a rotator cuff sprain, tear or tendinitis.
Restricted Movement: Symptoms are usually aggravated when the arms are raised overhead or when attempting to reach behind the body (eg. reaching for an object from the backseat of a car).
Tenderness: The affected area is tender to touch and may show symptoms such as swelling, redness, or warmth.

What Are the Options for Rotator Cuff Tendinitis Treatment in Singapore?

Conservative Treatments

If your Rotator Cuff Tendinitis is mild, you will benefit from conservative treatments, including:

Physical Treatments

Physiotherapists can help alleviate pain by using physical therapies to improve joint motion and relieve soft tissue tension.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDS are prescribed to help reduce pain and swelling.

Minimally Invasive Treatments

If your shoulder discomfort has been persistent or more severe, minimally invasive treatments can address the exact source without the need for open surgery. At Singapore Paincare, we offer a range of minimally invasive treatments that relieve pain precisely at its origin.

Coreflex Injection

Our proprietary coreflex injection are designed to calm inflammation at its source. A small amount of local anaesthetic is placed directly around the inflamed tendon or bursa, helping pain settle quickly. A mild steroid is added to reduce ongoing inflammation, providing longer-lasting relief and allowing smoother, more comfortable movement.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection

In some cases, we may also recommend PRP injections. This treatment helps accelerate your healing and recovery by utilizing your body’s own natural growth factors.

Surgical Treatments

Generally, surgery is rarely necessary and is typically only considered when other treatments haven't worked or when inflammation has led to structural damage (like a rotator cuff tear).

Subacromial Decompression and Acromioplasty

Remove bone spurs to create more space in the shoulder, reducing pressure on the tendons.

Bursectomy

Removes the inflamed bursa sac to relieve pain and swelling.

Rotator Cuff Repair

Repairs torn or severely damaged tendons when inflammation has led to structural damage.

How Singapore Paincare Treats Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

At Singapore Paincare, our specialists use the proprietary Painostic® method to identify the real source of rotator cuff tendinitis pain in the shoulder. Developed from years of clinical experience, this in-house approach goes beyond standard scans and physical examinations to determine which tendons, muscles, or surrounding structures are causing pain, weakness, and difficulty lifting or moving the arm. This allows us to build a treatment pathway that is matched to the severity of your tendon injury and how it affects your daily activities.

We focus on the least invasive options first, including targeted shoulder injections and minimally invasive procedures, supported by appropriate medication and physiotherapy when needed. Treatment plans commonly include structured rehabilitation and movement programmes to reduce tendon strain, restore shoulder strength, and improve control and stability. Even in more persistent or long-standing cases of rotator cuff tendinitis, this integrated approach helps relieve pain, improve function, and reduce the risk of repeated flare-ups so you can return to daily activities with greater comfort and confidence.

How To Prevent Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

Accidents can happen at any time and it's possible to have this condition despite taking all the right precautions. Here are a few tips for preventing rotator cuff tendinitis:

Keep the shoulders supple and flexible.
Strengthen the rotator cuff by doing exercises that target both small and large muscles of the shoulder.
Avoid activities with repetitive overhead arm action.
Treat rotator cuff tendinitis and bursitis early. Any shoulder pain that persists for more than 1 week should be evaluated and treated.

A Message About Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendinitis from Our Pain Specialist

Rotator cuff tendinitis usually develop gradually from repeated day-to-day activities. Over time, simple tasks like reaching overhead or lifting your arm can trigger sharper pain.

Depending on which part of the rotator cuff is inflamed, the pain may be felt at the front, back, or side of the shoulder. Sometimes, it can even travel down the arm toward the hand. Because of this, it can feel similar to a rotator cuff strain or tear, making proper assessment important.

The good news is that when treated early, bursitis and tendinitis are highly reversible. Addressing the inflammation before stiffness sets in helps restore comfort and movement, and reduces the risk of developing a rotator cuff tear or frozen shoulder.

At Singapore Paincare, our Painostic® method goes beyond treating symptoms. We identify the real source of discomfort and build an individualised, minimally invasive plan—so you can eat comfortably, sleep well, and return to your daily life with confidence.