This study found a significant increase in supraspinatus tendon thickness at 1 hour (7%) and 6 hours (11%) after fatigue loading exercise in people with painful rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy.

In comparison, control tendons very slightly reduced in thickness in response to loading, but not beyond the relevant minimal detectable difference.

Loading the RC to fatigue also resulted in a reduced subacromial space, with recovery to baseline delayed up to 24 hours in people with RC tendinopathy.