A 38 year old male began playing tennis with a new racket in the spring. He had not exercised all winter. He played for several hours on four consecutive days during vacation.
On his return, he could not raise his right shoulder due to severe pain. He was diagnosed with rotator cuff strain with bursitis and tendinitis of the right shoulder.
He was advised to discontinue tennis for two weeks, initiate the use of anti-inflammatory medications and begin a course of physical therapy to relieve his pain, improve his range of motion, stretch certain muscles and strengthen others in the rotator cuff.
After four weeks of treatment, his symptoms improved markedly and then resolved entirely following a steroid-anesthetic injection to the subdeltoid bursa.
He was given a series of appropriate stretching exercises before playing tennis and specific cool down exercises afterwards. He was able to resume his tennis game and enjoy the rest of the summer.