The rotator cuff is composed of the muscles and tendons
surrounding the top of the upper arm bone that hold it in the shoulder
joint. When calcium deposits form within the tendons of the rotator
cuff, they cause pain and discomfort. “Calcific tendonitis,” which
occurs more frequently in adults (primarily females) between ages
40 and 60, can be caused by tendon damage, genetics, abnormal
thyroid gland activity, metabolic disease such as diabetes, abnormal
cell growth, chemicals produced by the body to fight inflammation,
and other risk factors. While treatment options range from massage
therapy to steroid injections and surgery, “extracorporeal shock
wave therapy” involving the delivery of sound waves that break up
the calcium deposits has proven to relieve symptoms.