From the Guidelines
Approximately 10% of people aged 50 and older have asymptomatic shoulder tendinosis, as tendon degeneration is a common finding in this age group, even in the absence of symptoms. This means that a significant portion of older adults have tendon degeneration in their shoulders without experiencing any pain or functional limitations. The prevalence of asymptomatic tendinosis is supported by a study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology 1, which found that 10% of rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic and present only with morphologic changes. This silent condition is often discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other reasons.
- The asymptomatic nature of many cases explains why some individuals with significant tendon damage on imaging can function normally without treatment, while others with similar findings experience debilitating pain requiring intervention.
- Tendon degeneration is part of the normal aging process, as tendons gradually lose their elasticity and structural integrity over time.
- Years of repetitive shoulder movements can contribute to these changes even without causing pain. It's worth noting that the study published in Hepatology 1 is not directly relevant to the question of asymptomatic shoulder tendinosis in people aged 50 and older, as it discusses autoimmune hepatitis. Therefore, the findings from this study are not applicable to this specific question.
From the Research
Asymptomatic Shoulder Tendinosis in People 50 and Older
- The exact percentage of people 50 and older who are asymptomatic with shoulder tendinosis is not directly stated in the provided studies.
- However, a study on calcific tendinitis of the shoulder 2 mentions that among patients with calcific tendinitis, 2.7%-20% are asymptomatic.
- It is essential to note that calcific tendinitis is a specific condition, and the percentage of asymptomatic cases may vary for other types of shoulder tendinosis.
- The provided studies focus on the treatment and diagnosis of shoulder pain and tendinosis, but do not provide a clear answer to the question of asymptomatic cases in people 50 and older.
- Further research would be necessary to determine the exact percentage of asymptomatic shoulder tendinosis cases in this age group.