Study Shows Great News for Rotator Cuff Tendonitis. [click here]

Canadian postal workers prove powers of naturopathic medicine.

A recent study by the American College of Rheumatology shows the benefits of treating the whole body. The study, “Naturopathic treatment of rotator cuff tendinitis among Canadian postal workers: a randomized controlled trial” sees significant improvement in function and pain with naturopathic methods compared to a rehabilitation exercise group.

Rotator cuff tendonitis is a painful and often debilitating condition of the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder. Most treatments for rotator cuff injuries are focused on anti-inflammatory medicines and rehabilitation exercises. These treatments are area specific, meaning they look only at the site of pain (the rotator cuff tendons).

Naturopathic medicine is holistic (i.e. treats the whole person) and this study shows its efficacy even with an area-specific condition such as rotator cuff tendonitis. The naturopathic group was treated with dietary counselling, acupuncture, and a high potency enzyme to reduce inflammation. The rehabilitation group was treated with exercises and a placebo for inflammation. The end result showed improvement in both categories but the naturopathic treatment group had statistically more significant improvements than the rehabilitation exercise group.

This study confirms my approach to treating rotator cuff tendonitis. I like to treat my patients with Naturopathic medicine, structural manipulation and rehabilitation exercises.
Those patients who embrace this multi-disciplinary approach often see the best possible results.

The original article is in the following journal:
Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Aug 15;61(8):1037-45.

Dr. John