Calcific Tendinopathy of the Shoulder

Welcome to Texas State University's Evidence-based Practice project space. This is a wiki created by and for the students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Texas State University - San Marcos. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!

Original Editors

Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page.  Read more.

Search Strategy[edit | edit source]

add text here related to databases searched, keywords, and search timeline

Definition/Description[edit | edit source]

Calcific tendonitis refers to the deposition of calcium—predominantly hydroxyapatite—in a tendon, most often in those of the rotator cuff. May be secondary to a local decrease in oxygen tension resulting in fibrocartilaginous metaplasia and resulting calcification.[1]

Epidemiology/Etiology[edit | edit source]

Etiology is still unclear.

Possible Causes:[2]

  • Hypovasculariation
  • Local degenerative and proliferative changes


Calcific tendonitis occurs in 2.5%–7.5% of healthy shoulders in adults. It's more commonly seen in women (70% of cases) and most frequently during the 5th decade of life.[1]

Common locations[1]

  • The supraspinatus tendon (80% of cases), Most common. – critical zone
  • Infraspinatus tendon (15% of cases) – lower 1/3
  • subscapularis tendon (5%of cases) - preinsertional fibers

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

add text here

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

add text here

Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]

add links to outcome measures here (also see Outcome Measures Database)

Examination[edit | edit source]

add text here related to physical examination and assessment

Medical Management
[edit | edit source]

add text here

Physical Therapy Management
[edit | edit source]

add text here

Key Research[edit | edit source]

add links and reviews of high quality evidence here (case studies should be added on new pages using the case study template)

Resources
[edit | edit source]

add appropriate resources here

Clinical Bottom Line[edit | edit source]

add text here

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]

see tutorial on Adding PubMed Feed

Extension:RSS -- Error: Not a valid URL: Feed goes here!!|charset=UTF-8|short|max=10

References[edit | edit source]

see adding references tutorial.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Serafini G, Sconfienza L, Lacelli F, Silvestri E, Aliprandi A, Sardanelli F. Rotator cuff calcific tendonitis: short-term and 10-year outcomes after two-needle us-guided percutaneous treatment--nonrandomized controlled trial. Radiology [serial online]. July 2009;252(1):157-164. Available from: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 20, 2011.
  2. Cacchio A, Paoloni M, Spacca G, et al. Effectiveness of radial shock-wave therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: single-blind, randomized clinical study. Physical Therapy [serial online]. May 2006;86(5):672-682. Available from: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed October 25, 2011.