Treatment for Common Rotator Cuff Ailment May Be Useless

Is the Common Rotator Cuff Ailment Treatment Ineffective?

Treatment for rotator cuff ailment may be useless

By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter

Treating shoulder pain can be as effective as throwing darts at a dartboard with a blindfold on, according to a Norwegian research team. In their findings, they question the usefulness of current treatment guidelines for calcific tendinopathy, a painful condition affecting the rotator cuff tendons. It turns out that the popular invasive procedure, ultrasound-guided lavage, is about as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane.

Dr. Stefan Moosmayer, the lead researcher and an orthopedic surgeon at Martina Hansens Hospital in Gjettum, Norway, boldly states, “The study findings should lead to a critical reconsideration of treatment guidelines for this condition, specifically for the use of ultrasound-guided lavage and cortisone injections.” It seems that we may have been barking up the wrong tree with all this talk of calcium buildup.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that calcification is the root of all evil when it comes to shoulder pain. But Moosmayer argues that there may be other factors at play, as mysterious as a magician’s disappearing act. The study raises doubts about the benefits of ultrasound-guided lavage and steroid injections, suggesting that their benefits are no better than a sugar pill.

In their study, the researchers enlisted 218 patients suffering from shoulder pain and divided them into three groups: lavage plus steroid injection, phony lavage plus steroid injection, and phony lavage alone. After treatment, the patients were given a home exercise program. Surprisingly, after four months, there was no significant difference in pain and function among the three groups, even in patients whose calcium had vanished into thin air.

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Although patients who received a steroid shot reported better pain relief in the short term, the improvements were as fleeting as a shooting star. Dr. Etan Sugarman, a sports medicine surgeon at Northwell Health in New York City, comments, “This study does call into question the use of lavage and I think more globally, it calls into question the use of steroids. Steroid injection is used routinely and repetitively, and I think that needs to be questioned here.”

So what’s the alternative? According to Dr. Sugarman, conservative treatment can work wonders. Over time, shoulder pain is likely to improve on its own, with a little bit of patience and reassurance from your healthcare provider. As Moosmayer puts it, “Patients should take their time. It’s a good thing to treat them noninvasively for a long time because it appears a great number will do very well.”

It seems we’ve been going overboard with lavage procedures for shoulder pain in the United States. Dr. David Robinson, a sports medicine physiatrist at Mass General Brigham and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, suggests that we should reel it in and consider if the procedure is truly effective, especially when symptoms first start. He advises, “If you’ve had pain from calcific tendinopathy for years, then an ultrasound-guided lavage procedure isn’t likely to provide much additional help, but symptoms will still likely improve with time alone and a home exercise program.”

So break out the dumbbells and get ready to flex those biceps because exercise just might be the key to conquering shoulder pain. And if you want to dive deeper into the fascinating world of calcific tendinopathy, check out The Cleveland Clinic’s website.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more about calcific tendinopathy.

SOURCES: – Stefan Moosmayer, MD, PhD, consultant orthopedic surgeon, Martina Hansens Hospital, Gjettum, Norway. – David Robinson, MD, sports medicine physiatrist, Mass General Brigham and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston. – Etan Sugarman, MD, sports medicine surgeon, Northwell Health, New York City. – BMJ, Oct. 11, 2023

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Did you know that the treatment guidelines for shoulder pain might be as ineffective as a broken compass? A recent study from Norway challenges the conventional wisdom about treating a common shoulder ailment called calcific tendinopathy. The researchers found that procedures like ultrasound-guided lavage and cortisone injections offer no better results than a placebo. So, before you rush into invasive treatments, how about giving conservative measures a try? Exercise and time could be the superhero duo that rescues you from shoulder pain. Remember, patience, patience, and more patience! If you want to arm yourself with more information, check out The Cleveland Clinic’s website. And don’t forget to flex those muscles and stay active!