DR. ONG KEE LEONG

Shoulder Tendonitis

Shoulder tendonitis is a common shoulder injury. Although it may cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily activities, it can be treated with the appropriate treatment options, which generally do not require surgery. Consult Dr. Ong about treatment options suitable for your condition.

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What Is Shoulder Tendonitis?

Shoulder tendonitis is the inflammation of the rotator cuff or the biceps tendon. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint, which helps secure the upper arm bone to your shoulder blade.

Shoulder tendonitis is one of the most common types of shoulder injuries, which may cause significant swelling and pain.

Causes of Shoulder Tendonitis

  • Overuse of the shoulders
  • Injury to the shoulder from a direct hit or falling
  • Improper exercise or sports technique

Symptoms of Shoulder Tendonitis

  • Shoulder pain & weakness
  • Swelling or tenderness in your shoulder
  • Loss of shoulder mobility
  • Popping sensation

How Is Shoulder Tendonitis Diagnosed?

A full review of your medical history, as well as a physical examination to check for swelling and pain, may be conducted.

Further imaging tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. An x-ray examination can eliminate other issues that may be causing pain, such as a bone fracture. Ultrasound and MRI scans can also display detailed images of your shoulder to determine the severity of the damage.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Non-Surgical Treatment

Common treatment methods include:

  • Rest
  • Ice compression to minimise swelling and pain.
  • Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin
  • Physical therapy
  • Cortisone injectionSurgical

Surgical Treatment

Surgery may be recommended for more severe cases of shoulder tendonitis (where the rotator cuff or bicep tendons tear partially or completely) or when non-surgical treatment options fail to alleviate symptoms.

A rotator cuff surgery is usually performed to remove the inflamed tissues and bone. There are generally two types of rotator cuff surgery:

  • Traditional open surgery. This is done on the most severe cases, which involves replacing the damaged tissues.
  • Arthroscopic surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure and is usually performed on mild cases of tendonitis.

Why Do Patients Choose Dr Ong Kee Leong?

  • Dr. Ong Is Passionate In Sports, Giving Him A Deep Understanding Of Sports-Related Injuries And How They Can Be Treated
  • Fellowship Trained Surgeon With 15 Years Of Experience In Orthopaedic Conditions
  • Personalised And Professional Approach To Deliver High-Quality Orthopaedic Care Based On The Most Up-To-Date Literature
  • Detailed Aftercare Plan To Ensure Smooth, Long-Term Recovery
  • Problem-Oriented, Well-Organised and Individualized Treatment Plans Catered To Your Specific Needs
  • Specialist In The Management Of Sports Injuries And Degenerative Conditions Of The Shoulder And Knee Joints
  • Knowledgeable And Pleasant Clinical Staff To Assist You With Your Every Need Detailed Aftercare Plan To Ensure
  • Our Care Is Conveniently Accessible At Mount Elizabeth Novena and Farrer Park hospital
  • Minimal Waiting Time For Initial Consultation
  • Assistance With Medical Claims (e.g. Medisave & Integrated Shield Plans)

“Moving your body the way nature intended is a freedom not well appreciated until it is lost. We are passionate about getting you back in the game, and staying in the game. My team and I are fully committed to returning you to the life and activities you love.”

Dr. Ong Kee Leong

About Dr. Ong Kee Leong

Senior Consultant, MBBS (Singapore), MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Dr. Ong Kee Leong is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon. He subspecializes in shoulder and knee, foot and ankle, hand wrist and elbow surgeries, arthroscopic sports surgery, and the management of sports-related injuries.

He has been registered with the Singapore Medical Council as a specialist in Orthopaedic Surgery since 2011.

  • MBBS, National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Medicine 2001
  • Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 2007
  • Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery (NUS) 2007
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Orthopaedic Surgery 2011
  • Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Scholarship, Ministry of Health 2012-2013:
  • Sports Surgery and Arthroscopy in Germany (Hannover)
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Lee Kong Chian School Of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University
  • Senior Clinical Lecturer, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS
Awards & Teaching
  • Dr. Ong had received numerous awards such as Best Service and Eastern Health Alliance Caring (Gold) Awards.
  • He also has an interest in clinical research and has written papers in multiple peer-review journals. As a Core Faculty of Singhealth Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, he oversees the training of junior orthopaedic surgeons.
  • Regularly invited to teach local and regional surgeons in Shoulder and Knee Surgery Courses.
  • He is a recipient of multiple teaching awards including the Singhealth Residency Outstanding Faculty Awards from 2014-2016 and Changi General Hospital Outstanding Educator Awards 2015-2016.
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Billing & Payment

Consultation fees are charged based on length of consultation, and start from SGD$150 (within 30 minutes).

Modes of Payment

We accept the following modes of payment:

  • Cash
  • PayNow & PayLah
  • All major Credit Cards

If you are insured and would like to use a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) from the major insurers in Singapore, please contact us and our friendly clinic staff will assist you and provide more information if required.

Can I Claim Through My Medisave Account? (For Singaporeans and PR)

Yes, you can. Our Clinic is an accredited day surgery clinic by the Ministry of Health. Singaporeans and Permanent Residents may use their Medisave for eligible orthopaedic inpatient procedures and hospitalizations.

The exact amount would depend on the complexity of the procedure. If you have any enquiries, feel free to speak to our friendly clinic staff about using your Medisave account.

Integrated Shield Plans (Singaporeans and PRs)

Yes, patients who have purchased Integrated Shield plans with riders for co-insurance and deductibles will be able to use them in our clinic for eligible procedures. For more information, contact us to find out if your procedure is claimable.

The 6 Approved Integrated Shield Insurers are:

  • NTUC Income’s IncomeShield and Enhanced IncomeShield
  • American International Assurance International Co’s (AIA) HealthShield Gold
  • Great Eastern Life Assurance Co’s SupremeHealth and SupremeHealth Plus
  • Aviva Ltd’s MyShield
  • Prudential Assurance Co’s PRUShield
  • AXA Shield