Shoulder Bursitis Causes

Overstraining the rotator cuff can lead to inflammation in your joint, which can result in tendinitis and bursitis. You can experience these conditions independently or simultaneously. Failure to take action against the inflammation can cause an impingement (pinching of the soft tissue), and produce further degeneration which frequently results in a major rotator cuff strain and/or tear. These injuries can often lead to surgery.

People most susceptible to shoulder injuries are often older than 40 years of age and/ or have bone spurs on their shoulder bone. There is a high incidence of shoulder injuries among women. These injuries can also affect younger people who often partake in new or repetitive activities, are already injured and/or have chronic weakness in their shoulder.

Tendinitis, also frequently referred to as bursitis or impingement, occurs when your rotator cuff is irritated on the undersurface of the acromion (bony knob on your shoulder blade).

Inflammation of your shoulder tendons or bursa will produce redness, swelling, and soreness in your shoulder soft tissue. Acute tendonitis is often due to overuse or repetitive actions common in athletes or workers who use frequent overhead arm movements such as throwing a ball, swinging a racquet, swimming, lifting weights, dusting high shelves, painting, or completing manual labor tasks. Decreased space in your shoulder joint will result from the above, as well as from anatomical differences in the shape of your shoulder bone, or arthritis. These will trigger pain, limit the use of your shoulder, and can lead to chronic tendonitis.

This mild inflammation can cause your shoulder tendons and bursa to swell and rub against or snag the acromion, or rub against a ligament at the front of your shoulder. When your arm is raised in a forward, reaching or overhead position the shoulder tendons and bursa can be pinched (impingement), which causes further swelling. Impingement syndrome occurs when your tendon begins to break down near its attachment on the humerus bone as a result of this inflammation and swelling. If this continues, your pain will get worse and your tendon may split or completely tear away from the bone.

This condition is often referred to as Swimmer's shoulder, Pitcher's shoulder, Tennis Shoulder, or Shoulder impingement syndrome.