Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy - Pathology pt1:

  1. Affects supraspinatus tendon mostly +/- subacromial bursa involvement:
  2. inflammatory event
  3. tendon swells - overexpression of proteoglycans, increasing water content in tendon
  4. disrupted matrix with collagen breakdown, weakening tendon
  5. increased tenocyte death - apoptosis, losing some capacity to repair the tendon and once tendon degenerates, it cant regenerate new material
• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy - Pathology pt2:

  1. Affects supraspinatus tendon mostly +/- subacromial bursa involvement:
  2. neovascularity and nerve ingrowth, causing further pain and leading to chronic pain
  3. may get calcification - insertions of calcium into tendons and muscles where they shouldnt be
  4. chondrometaplasia - fibrocartilage in the matrix, so tissue is not soft anymore, but more rigid
  5. can develop partial or full thickness tears, weakening the tendon
  6. degradation of muscle fibres due to decrease loading of tendon
  7. cycle repeats