Calcium can build up in any tendon, and it is the Rotator Cuff of the shoulder that is particularly painful. This debilitating condition can leave patients unable to lift their arm, struggling to sleep, and feeling frustrated with conventional treatments that often provide only temporary relief. Understanding how limiting this condition can be, our experienced team specializes in two highly effective, evidence-based treatments that specifically target these stubborn calcium deposits.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL or barbotage) are among those used to treat the pain of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, with both treatments showing excellent clinical results. Our shockwave therapy works by emerging as an alternative when conservative treatment fails in rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, prior to invasive procedures, while our ultrasound-guided barbotage technique involves an injection technique carried out under ultrasound guidance designed to breakdown and aspirate (‘suck out’) the calcium deposits.
Research shows that utilization of barbotage as a treatment for calcific tendonitis of the shoulder appears to produce notable pain reduction in the short term and we combine these advanced procedures with our hands-on physiotherapy and osteopathy approach to optimize your recovery – we believe in using cutting-edge treatments to give you the best chance of returning to pain-free movement and the activities you love.
While these can resolve on their own, injections and shockwave can be very effective. Calcific tendinopathy usually comes on suddenly with intense pain as the body tries to react to the calcium build up. This can sometimes cause the calcium to bursts causing considerable pain. Here, steroid or cortisone injections can help.
If the calcium if more established then other treatments are necessary:
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL or barbotage) are the commonly used to treatments for calcific tendinopathy, with both treatments showing excellent clinical results.
- Shockwave therapy works by breaking down the calcium over a 6 to 8 weeks period.
- Shockwave physically pelts the calcium with mini shock eruptions, stimulating the tissues to reabsorb the calcium.
- Ultrasound-guided barbotage technique involves an injection of saline and painkillers into the calcium deposits, breaking them down and then sucking them out through the needle.
Research supports both treatments. We always recommend shockwave first, followed by barbatoge if this is not successful. We combine these advanced procedures with our hands-on physiotherapy and osteopathy approach to optimize your recovery – we believe in using cutting-edge treatments to give you the best chance of returning to pain-free movement and the activities you love.