Definition/Description

For information about tendinopathy, see http://www.physio-pedia.com/Tendinopathy

Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common and disabling condition that becomes more prevalent after
middle age (6,7) and is a common cause of pain in the shoulder (26, 27). A predisposing factor is
resistive overuse.[1]
The supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff is involved and affected tendons[2][3] (28) of the
musculoskeletal system and becomes degenerated, most often as a result of repetitive stresses and
overloading during sports or occupational activities (29).
The tendon of the supraspinatus commonly impinges under the acromion as it passes between the
acromion and the humeral head. This mechanism is multifactorial (see below).
Clinical Relevant Anatomy
The supraspinatus muscle is of the greatest practical importance in the rotator cuff (30), derives its
innervation from the suprascapular nerve (31) and stabilises the schoulder, exorotates and helps
abduct (lift up sideways) the arm, by initiating the abduction of the humerus on the scapula (30). For
more information about the function of the musculus supraspinatis in the rotator cuff,
see http://www.physio-pedia.com/Rotator_Cuff
Any friction between the tendon and the acromion is normally reduced by the subacromial bursa.
For origo en insertion of the musculus supraspinatus, see also http://www.physiopedia.com/Rotator_Cuff
The anterior margin of the supraspinatus is defined by the posterior edge of the rotator interval that
separates the supraspinatus from the rolled superior border of the subscapularis. The posterior margin
of the supraspinatus is marked by the extension of the raphe between supraspinatus and infraspinatus
around the scapular spine. The anterior portion of the supraspinatus is composed of a long and thick
tendinous component whereas the posterior portion has been shown to be short and thin (31).
An anatomic dissection study of the supraspinatus footprint found that the mean anterior to posterior
dimension of the supraspinatus tendon was 25 mm, with a mean medial to lateral thickness of the
footprint of 12 mm - the mean distance from the cartilage to the supraspinatus footprint was 1.5 mm at
midtendon (32).
The supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons fuse 1.5 cm proximal to their insertions (33). Collagen is
the major matrix protein of supraspinatus tendons, consisting of > 95% type I collagen, with
lesser amounts of other collagens including collagen type III (35, 36).
The anatomy of the supraspinatuss insertion is of key relevance in terms of its extracellular matrix

composition and has been categorised into four transition zones (34). The first zone is proper tendon,
made up of largely type I collagen and small amounts of decorin. The second zone is fibrocartilage
and consists of largely types II and III collagen, with small amounts of types I, IX and X collagen.
The third zone is mineralised fibrocartilage and consists of type II collagen, with significant amounts
of type X collagen and aggrecan. The fourth zone is bone and is largely type I collagen with a high
mineral content. This effective bone-tendon attachment is achieved through a functional grading in
mineral content and collagen fibre orientation. The supraspinatus enthesis is a highly specialised in
homogeneous structure that is subjected to both tensile and compressive forces (33).
Epidemiology/Etiology
The mean age of onset of this complication is in the sixth decade (age 50 to 59), and it is more
frequent in diabetic patients[1]. It is also a common cause of shoulder pain in athletes whose sports
involve throwing and overhead motions[2].
The causes of supraspinatus tendinitis can be primary impingement, which is a result of increased
subacromial loading, and secondary impingement, which is a result of rotator cuff overload and
muscle imbalance[4]. Figure 1 gives a view on the different extrinsic and intrinsic factors

Figure 1: The causes of supraspinatus tendonitis: extrinsic and intrinsic factors

(39)
Characteristics/Clinical presentation
Patients present with progressive subdeltoid aching that is aggravated by abduction, elevation, or
sustained overhead activity. They feel also tenderness and a burning sensation in their shoulder (29).
The pain may radiate to the lateral upper arm or may be located in the top and front of the shoulder. It
typically becomes worse with overhead activity. Initially, the pain is felt during activities only, but
eventually may occur at rest (29).
One has to think of supraspinatus tendinopthy when the patient says:
Pain increases with reaching (29).
Pain is felt after frequent repetitive activity at, or above shoulder (37).
Patient feels weakness of resisted abduction and forward flexion, especially with pushing and
overhead movements (29).
Patient has difficulty sleeping at night due to pain, especially when lying on the affected shoulder,

and with an inability to sleep (29).

Patient has difficulties with simple movements, such as brushing hair, putting on a shirt or jacket, or
reaching the arm above shoulder height (29).
Patient has a limited range of motion in the shoulder (29).
Patient had a former shoulder trauma (29).
Figure 2: painfull arc test
(39)
The shoulder may be warm and there may be fullness anterolaterally (29). Further, there is a painfull
arc between 70 and 120 of abduction (29) (Figure 2).
So supraspinatus tendinitis is usually consistent with anterior instability causing posterior tightness.
The problems that patient with Supraspinatus Tendinitis complain off, are pain, inflammation,
decreased ROM, strength, and functional activity (1).

Differential Diagnosis[1]
In general, the causes of an acute painful shoulder can be classified into different categories,
according to the prevailing pathoanatomy. These include (10):

- Acromioclavicular Joint Injury (4)

- Bicipital Tendonitis (4)
- Brachial Plexus Injury (4)
- Cervical Disc Injuries (4)
- Cervical Discogenic Pain Syndrome (4)
- Cervical Radiculopathy (4)
- Cervical Spine Sprain/Strain Injuries (4)
- Clavicular Injuries (4)
- Contusions (4)
- Degenerative causes like rotator cuff tear, cervical spine radiculopathy and osteoarthritic
glenohumeral joint (10)
- Infraspinatus Syndrome (4)

- Infective causes like acute pyogenic arthritis and osteomyelitis (10)

- Inflammatory causes like gouty arthritis, adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder and calcific
tendonitis (10)
- Myofascial Pain in Athletes (4)
- Neoplastic causes like tumor metastasis (10)
- Shoulder Dislocation (4)
- Subacromial impingement (4)
- Superior Labrum Lesions (4)
- Swimmer's Shoulder (4)
- Traumatic fractures and dislocations (10)
More probing investigations can narrow down the differential diagnoses, which could include:
blood for white cell counts, search for abnormal blood biochemistry and inflammatory markers, as
well as radionuclide imaging and MRI.
For more information about MRI, see http://www.physio-pedia.com/MRI_Scans
The MRI findings of rotator cuff tendinopathy are characterised by thickened inhomogeneous rotator
cuff tendon with increased signal intensity on all pulse sequences (14). Fluid intensity filling an
incomplete gap in the tendon on fat suppressed T2-weighted sequences changes are seen on MRI for
partial-thickness tears (15). On MRI, an area of high signal intensity on all pulse sequences outlines
complete disruption of the tendon (16).
Outcome Measures
Diagnosis is usually clinical, but imaging can be useful. Shoulder x-rays can reveal calcifications in
rotator cuff tendons and in the bursa[2][3]. In longstanding cases, there may be degenerative changes,
such as cystic/sclerotic changes at the greater tuberosity and decreased humeral head-acromion
distance, secondary to upward migration of the humeral head [4]. In acute calcific tendinitis,
calcifications may be irregular, fluffy and ill-defined. Dynamic ultrasound can demonstrate thickening
of the subacromial bursa and impingement during abduction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
rather than computed tomography (CT), is the preferred modality, since it produces more detailed
soft-tissue images[1].
Examination
The anamnesis often reveals that, in case of a calcification, due to a trauma, pain emerges later on,
after a few hours.
The physical examination consist of taking the fever, looking for external wounds or bruises over the
affected shoulder and checking the skin temperature. Further, the examinator will palpate in the area
of the tendinous insertion of the supraspinatus muscle for checking tenderness and pain. Both passive
and active movements will be performed (10).
Specific questionnaires can be used: Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS).
With clinical examination, other causes of shoulder pain should be excluded. So the neck, shoulder
and chest wall have to be examined (Figure 3).

Figure 3: The neck, shoulder and chest wall have to be examined, so that other causes of shoulder
pain should be excluded.
(Caroline, Adebajo, Hay & Carr, 2005)

The shoulders are inspected for symmetry, localized swelling and muscle atrophy. There may be
tenderness below the acromion and over the greater tuberosity. Internal rotation of the shoulder can
facilitate palpation of the supraspinatus insertion on the greater tuberosity. The most important clinical
maneuvers are as follows[1]:
Painful arc[4] (see figure 2)
Testings:
Neers sign (http://www.physio-pedia.com/Neers_Test)
Hawkins sign (http://www.physio-pedia.com/Hawkins_/_Kennedy_Test)
Supraspinatus challenge test = The Empty Beer Can sign = Job s test (http://www.physiopedia.com/Empty_Can_Test)
Drop arm test (http://www.physio-pedia.com/Drop_Arm_Test)
Impingement tes

Neer's test

Hawkin's sign

Empty Can sign

If sonografy is done, the standard method for sonographic evaluation of the supraspinatus tendon
requires the arm behind the back (Crass position) or hand on the back pocket (modified Crass
position) (23). Crass et al. (24) described scanning the shoulder in extension and internal rotation,
achieved by placing the patients hand behind the back.
Figure 4

Close-up view of the calcified lesion (11)

Yet diagnosis is usually clinical, but imaging can be useful. Shoulder x-rays can reveal calcifications
in rotator cuff tendons and in the bursa (1,5) (Figure 4). In longstanding cases, there may be
degenerative changes, such as cystic/sclerotic changes at the greater tuberosity and decreased humeral
head-acromion distance, secondary to upward migration of the humeral head (6). In acute calcific
tendinitis, calcifications may be irregular, fluffy and ill-defined. Dynamic ultrasound can demonstrate
thickening of the subacromial bursa and impingement during abduction. Also sonografy and Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) can be done (18).
Supraspinatus tendinosis can be graded using a modified 4-point scale from 0 to 3 based on previous
studies (13, 16, 17, 18). Diagnosis is based on the appearance of the rotator cuff tendons (grading
system) and the presence or absence of signs denoting involvement of the subacromial bursa and
subacromialsubdeltoid plane (13, 18).

Medical Management

The treatment used to manage a supraspinatus tendonitis depends on the etiology of the pathology. At
first a conservative treatment is preferred. This treatment involves physical therapy, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ice treatments and resting. (41) Corticoid injections can also be used
additional to physical therapy(42). A surgical intervention can be a solution if there is no improvement
after 3-6 months of conservative treatment. (47)
NSAIDs may be the first choice for mild to moderate symptoms, if there are no contraindications to
these agents[2]. A short term use (7-14 days) of NSAIDs is useful to relieve the pain associated with a
tendinitis. However, there is little evidence supporting a long term course of NSAIDs. (40)
Moderate to severe symptoms may require a local subacromial corticosteroid injection. For more
information about corticosteroid injections, see http://www.physiopedia.com/Therapeutic_Corticosteroid_Injection
The major indications for surgery are ongoing pain, loss of function[1], failure to respond to
conservative therapy for 3 months or evidence of an acute tear in a younger patient.(44) Surgical
approaches include calcium deposit resection, with or without subacromial decompression, bursal
resectionA and acromioplastyB, using either arthroscopic or open methods. Its also possible to split
off the coraco-acromial ligament to enlarge the space between acromion and humerus. This can cause
instability, but we can compensate it with some training of the rotator cuff. [1] With physical therapy
it takes patients up to 4 months to recover. The goal of a surgery is to obtain pain relief, increased
range of motion and increased power. (44)
ABursal resection: Removement of the subacromial bursa.
BAcromioplasty: Generally, it implies removal of a small piece of the surface of the acromion that is
in contact with a tendon causing, by friction, damage to the latter tissue.
Physical Therapy Management
The main goal in the acute phase (initial phase) is to alleviate pain, inflammation, prevent aggravation
of pain, reduce muscle wasting and normalize the arthrokinematics of the shoulder girdle. A period of
rest should be considered in order to avoid further aggravation and shoulder discomfort.
Passive modalities should be considered in order to avoid painful aggravation. Modalities such as
ultrasound, cryotherapy and electrical muscle stimulation can provide temperory relief in acute phase.
Strengthening exercises such as isometric exercises should be considered in order to work out the
shoulder girdle musculatures. Proper home exercise programs should also be taught in conjuction with
proper ergonomics.
The management of a supraspinatus tendonitis consists of different progressive exercises. There are
three phases of treatment: Immobilization, passive/assisted range of motion, progressive resistance
exercises. (45)

Early management includes avoidance of repetitive movements that aggravate the pain. Patients
should be informed about pain provoking postures and movements. Cryotherapy, soft tissue
techniques and wearing a sling/taping are some other techniques to relieve pain.(45) Gentle range-of-

motion exercises, such as Codmans classic pendulum exercises, maintain range of motion and
prevent development of adhesive capsulitis[2][1]. (Figure 6)[1][4]. Once pain has been reduced,joint
mobilisations, massages, muscle stretches, active-assisted and active exercises are needed to improve
the ROM again. Active-assisted mobilisations can be done by the patient himself/herself by using an
exercise bar. We can also use a rope and pulley, this way the unaffected arm is able to pull the affected
one into anteversion (Figure 7). (45) Strengthening exercises should work on the external rotators,
internal rotators, biceps, deltoid, and scapular stabilizers [4].
Strengthening these muscles will keep the shoulder joint more stable and prevent further injuries.
Eccentric exercises will also be more effective than concentric exercises.(46)

I.E.:
Sidelying external rotation with dumbbell against gravity
Prone horizontal abduction with dumbbell against gravity
Prone anteflexion in the plane of the scapula
Prone row with external rotation
External rotation with Thera-tubing (standing position)
Horizontal abduction with Thera-tubing (standing position)
Rows with Thera-tubing (standing position)
Elevation in the plane of the scapula (standing position)
Scapula settings(47)
Scapular protraction and retraction(47)
Joint mobilization may be included with inferior, anterior, and posterior glides in the scapular plane [1].
Stretching exercises should be done by repeating the exercise 3 times and holding the stretch each
time for 30 seconds.
Examples of the stretches for home exercise program are (Figure 7):

Neuromuscular control exercises also may be initiated [2]. PNF patterns will increase strength in rotator
cuff muscles and increase the stability of the shoulder. We can use four different patterns.
Modalities that also may be used as an adjunct include cryotherapy, hyperthermia [5], transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound[6]. Intensive ultrasound therapy has been shown to increase
calcium resorption, but this requires frequent treatment that may not always be practical [6].

Key component of the treatment program - Friction Massage

Light to deep transverse friction massage is given over the tendon.
The patient sits comfortably on a chair, and the arm is put in a neutral or somewhat extended position
with the lower arm supported.
The therapist sits at the patient's side.
A position of neutral or slight humeral extension brings the tendon forward into a position in which
the site of the lesion is easily accessible to the fingertips. (see Fig.).
The therapist identifies the site of the supraspinatus tendon lying between the greater tubercle of the
humerus and the acromion process. It is essential that the tendon be accurately located by knowledge
of anatomy; it cannot be distinguished by palpation.
The pad of the therapist's middle finger, reinforced by the index finger (or vice versa), is placed
directly over the site of the lesion, which is always just proximal to the tendon insertion on the greater
tubercle. The thumb is used to stabilize the arm.

Massage of the supraspinatus muscle combined with joint movement; therapy technique.
a, Starting position. b, End position.
Patient's starting position: lying on the left side, arm abducted.
Therapist's starting position: standing, in front of the patient (Fig. Zahnd and Miihlemann 1998).

The therapist applies friction in a direction perpendicular to the normal orientation of the tendon,
using the thumb both as fulcrum and to maintain pressure. The thumb and fingers of the opposite hand
support and gather the skin over the shoulder to avoid friction between the massaging finger and skin.
This is the most valuable treatment in the management of supraspinatus tendinitis and is a key
component of the treatment program. A similar technique is used for the other tendons of the rotator
cuff.
Self-exercise

Patient's starting position: sitting, arm abducted to a position before symptoms appear, contact with
three finger tips of the left hand in the supraspinous fossa (a).
Movement: pressure into the supraspinous fossa, active adduction of the right glenohumeral joint,
then releasing the pressure into the supraspinous fossa, and back to the starting position (b).
Patients suffering from non-calicfying supraspinatus tendinopathy may benefit from low energy
extracorporeal shock wave therapy, at least in short-term[3].
At the end of the therapy you should initiate plyometric and sports-specific exercises.
Patient education is again reemphasized, maintaining proper mechanics, strength, and flexibility, and
having a good understanding of the pathology. The patient should also show an understanding of a
home exercise program with the proper warm-up and strengthening techniques [2][4].

Key Research
Starr M, Kang H. Recognition and management of common forms tendinitis and bursitis. The
Canadian Journal of CME. 2001; 155-163.
Clinical Bottom Line
Supraspinatus tendinitis is a common source of shoulder pain in athletes that participate in overhead
sports (handball, volleyball, tennis, baseball). This tendinitis is in most cases caused by an
impingement of the supraspinatus tendon on the acromion as it passes between the acromion and the
humeral head. Pain, and a decrease in range of motion, strength and functionality are the main
complaints that accompany this injury and should be addressed in the physical therapy. There is
enough evidence to prove that physical applications such as ultrasound , cryotherapy, hyperthermia,
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and extracorporeal shock wave therapy have a beneficial
effect on the recovery of supraspinatus tendinitis. But we have to remember that it is very important to
use these methods as an adjunct to physical therapy (increasing ROM, strength training of the rotator
cuff muscles and other shoulder stabilizers).