When your doctor tells you there’s calcium buildup in your muscles or tendons, you might immediately wonder if it’s something serious. This condition is called calcific tendonitis. The medical term might sound intimidating, leading you to ask, Is calcific tendonitis cancer? Feeling confused and anxious is normal, but there’s no need to worry.
Calcific tendonitis is actually a common and benign condition. It occurs when calcium deposits form in a tendon, most often in the shoulder, causing pain and stiffness. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s not cancer and can be managed with the right treatment.
Let’s take a closer look at this condition! And more importantly, let’s explore how it can be treated effectively — especially with innovative options like ANF Therapy®️.
ANF Therapy®️ is the newest treatment for managing tendonitis. It is a frequency-based treatment option for various pathologies. This therapy aims to activate the body’s healing process instead of treating the symptoms.
What is calcific tendonitis?
Calcific tendonitis is a shoulder condition that occurs due to the deposition of calcium phosphate crystals in your tendon. It mostly affects the rotator cuff tendons that connect your shoulder muscles to the bone. However, other body areas, such as elbows, hips, knees, and feet, can also be affected.
Stages of calcific tendonitis
Calcific tendonitis progresses through three phases:
- Pre-calcific phase: At this stage, cellular changes occur in the areas where calcium deposition will take place.
- Calcific phase: During this stage, calcium starts building up. Then your body reabsorbs these calcium deposits, which is a quite painful process.
- Post-calcific phase: At this stage, calcium disappears, and the tendon heals.
How common is calcific tendonitis?
According to research, calcific tendonitis condition affects women more often, with almost 73.77% of cases with a peak age between 40 and 60 years. Current evidence suggests that between 7% and 17% of individuals with shoulder pain have calcific tendonitis. It occurs in approximately 7.8% of asymptomatic individuals and 42.5% of patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS), a condition characterised by pain and inflammation below the acromion (the top part of the shoulder blade).
Symptoms of calcific tendinitis
People with calcific tendonitis often feel:
- Sharp pain, usually in the shoulder
- Severe pain at night
- Stiffness in the joint
- Reduced mobility
- Pain radiating down the arm
- Weakness in the affected limb
- Swelling or redness around the affected area
- Difficulty in movements like lifting objects
However, some people may exhibit no symptoms, which means the condition may be asymptomatic.
What causes calcific tendonitis?
The exact cause of calcific tendonitis is still unknown. However, some factors that may contribute to the development of the condition include:
Ageing: Since tendons start to degenerate naturally as people age, the risk of calcification increases.
Overuse: Repeated shoulder movements can lead to micro-tears, promoting calcium deposition.
Repeated strain: Activities that place constant stress can also cause wear and tear in the tendons, increasing the risk of calcium buildup.
Genetic factors: Some genetic variations may affect calcium metabolism, which can raise the risk of calcification.
Direct trauma or injury: Inflammation and tissue damage caused by trauma or injury can also lead to calcific tendonitis.
Hormonal imbalances: Changes in hormone levels, particularly estrogen fluctuations in women, have been linked to an increased risk of calcific tendonitis.
Metabolic diseases: Conditions like diabetes may influence the development of calcific deposits due to metabolic imbalances.
Is calcific tendonitis cancer?
No, it’s not! Calcific tendonitis is not a cancer. Instead, it is a benign (non-cancerous) condition caused by calcium deposits in tendons. Although it causes severe pain and discomfort, especially during its reabsorption phase, it does not involve malignant cells or tumour growth.
However, calcific tendonitis can sometimes mimic cancer on imaging tests such as PET scans or MRIs. For example, the inflammation and calcium deposits associated with calcific tendonitis may appear similar to metastatic disease (cancer that has spread) on imaging tests.
Moreover, in a few cases, calcifications or ossifications in the soft tissues may trigger malignancy or infection.
How to Treat Tendonitis with ANF Therapy®️?
ANF Therapy®️ (Amino Neuro Frequency Therapy) is an advanced, drug-free treatment for calcific tendonitis. Based on frequency medicine, it is meant to optimise neural communication and reduce inflammation to accelerate healing.
This therapy involves the application of frequency-charged, small, circular ANF Devices to specific areas of your body. These devices aim to restore normal neurological function, enhance circulation, and support tissue recovery. ANF Therapy®️ is designed to create a balanced environment in the nervous system and activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
How ANF Therapy®️ Works for Tendonitis?
ANF treatment for calcific tendonitis involves the following steps:
1. History
Your ANF Therapist will take a detailed medical history to assess the severity of your condition and its impact on daily activities. The evaluation will include:
- Previous treatments – Have you tried physical therapy, medications, or other treatments for tendonitis?
- Medical history – Any history of inflammatory conditions, metabolic disorders, or repetitive strain injuries?
- Previous injuries – Have you had prior injuries in the affected area?
- Activity and strain history – Have you recently increased physical activity, started a new sport, or changed work-related movements?
- Pain assessment – When did the pain start? How severe is it on a scale of 1-10? Is the pain sharp, dull, or throbbing?
2. Physical Examination
Then, the ANF Therapist will perform a comprehensive physical assessment to understand the extent of tendon inflammation and dysfunction. This includes:
- Functional Tests to observe how the tendon performs during movements like gripping, walking, or lifting, depending on the affected area.
- Resisted Movement Tests to assess pain and weakness when applying resistance to the affected tendon.
- Range of Motion (ROM) Tests to evaluate joint mobility and identify motion restrictions.
- Palpation to check for localised tenderness, swelling, and thickening of the tendon.
3. Application of ANF Devices
After the assessment, your ANF Therapist will apply specific ANF Devices that are meant to address inflammation, pain, and tendon healing. These may include positive and negative anti-inflammatory Devices, antioxidant Devices, energy Devices, and Nitric oxide Devices, each meant to activate different healing responses.
You will need to drink at least 1-2 glasses of water per hour to stay hydrated and support your body’s detoxification and healing process.
4. Expected Outcome
According to Dr. Mikel H-G Hoff, the founder of ANF Therapy®️, most patients experience significant pain reduction and improved mobility after the first session, often achieving around 50% improvement. However, individual responses vary based on the severity and duration of the condition.
5. Follow-Up
Your ANF Therapist will schedule regular follow-ups to:
- Monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to treatment.
- Provide guidance on modifying activities to prevent further strain.
- Ensure proper application of ANF Devices, which need to be replaced every 72 hours for optimal results.
Recovery time for tendonitis varies depending on severity, but most cases improve within 2–8 weeks with consistent treatment and proper movement modifications.
Start Your Healing Journey with ANF Therapy®️
ANF Therapy®️ is an innovative and most advanced treatment for calcific tendonitis. If you’re struggling with tendon inflammation, consult an ANF Practitioner or find an ANF Therapist at www.anftherapy.com/find-clinic to start your treatment today!
If you’re a healthcare professional looking to enhance your clinical expertise with frequency medicine, learn more about ANF Therapy®️ and the ANF Clinical Education Program at www.anfacademy.com.
