Anyone can experience tendinitis and bursitis, but it's more common as you get older. As your tendons age, they are less elastic and become more susceptible to injury.

The problem is most likely to happen after recurring repetitive movement that causes minor injury to the shoulder:

• Spending the weekend painting the living room or playing your first tennis match of the season can bring on the pain of tendinitis
• Simple daily activities like lifting a bag of groceries into the car can inflame your bursa and cause bursitis. A bursa also can become inflamed from injury or an underlying disease such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Frequently lifting heavy items above your head can cause tendinitis and bursitis
• Participating in sports that require repetitive overhead movement such as swimming, playing baseball, or racketball can cause tendinitis and bursitis