Prevalance

 

Shoulder pain is a very common clinical presentation ranked the 3rd most common musculoskeletal reason for GP consultation annually (Hanratty et al 2012). Specifically 85% of disorders of the shoulder can then be further related to rotator cuff tendinopathy (Ostor et al 2005).

 

In a general population, the incidence of rotator cuff tendinopathy ranges from 0.3% to 5.5% and annual prevalence from 0.5% to 7.4% (Littlewood et al 2013). Interestingly, the shoulder is the most common site of pain reported in the wheelchair population ranging from 31% to 73% (Finley and Rodgers 2004).

 

There is a lack of data on the prevalence of rotator cuff tendinopathy in sporting populations However, athletes engaged in sports that involve overhead motions such as throwing athletes (javelin, baseball and American football), tennis, or swimming are more susceptible to rotator cuff injury (Scott and Ashe 2006). It is found that a combination of swimming more than 15 hours/week or 35 km/week predict the appearance of rotator cuff tendinopathy in 71% of elite swimmers.