By Kure Clinic
Shoulder impingement occurs when the top outer edge of your shoulder blade, called the acromion, rubs against (“impinges on”) or pinches your rotator cuff beneath it, causing pain and irritation
Rotator cuff pain is common in both young athletes and middle-aged people. Young athletes who use their arms overhead for swimming, baseball, and tennis are particularly vulnerable. Those who do repetitive lifting or overhead activities using the arm, such as paper hanging, construction, or painting are also susceptible.
Pain may also develop as the result of a minor injury. Sometimes, it occurs with no apparent cause.
Rotator cuff pain commonly causes local swelling and tenderness in the front of the shoulder. You may have pain and stiffness when you lift your arm. There may also be pain when the arm is lowered from an elevated position.
Beginning symptoms may be mild. Patients frequently do not seek treatment at an early stage. These symptoms may include:
Minor pain that is present both with activity and at rest
Pain radiating from the front of the shoulder to the side of the arm
Sudden pain with lifting and reaching movements
Athletes in overhead sports may have pain when throwing or serving a tennis ball
As the problem progresses, the symptoms increase:
Pain at night
Loss of strength and motion
Difficulty doing activities that place the arm behind the back, such as buttoning or zipping clothing
If the pain comes on suddenly, the shoulder may be severely tender. All movement may be limited and painful.
Who’s at risk of having it?
Playing sports that require using your shoulders for overhead or forceful motion is the biggest risk factor for developing shoulder impingement. Common activities that could cause this include:
swimming
tennis
baseball
Occupations that require lots of heavy lifting or arm movement also increase your risk. These include:
construction work
moving boxes
painting
Both old age and previous shoulder injuries, such as a dislocation, are also risk factors for shoulder impingement. Some people also have an unusually shaped acromion that increases their risk.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor may start by asking you some questions about any previous injuries as well as your exercise habits. Next, they may ask you to do a series of motions using your shoulder while they check for any unusual movement. This will also help your doctor rule out other conditions, such as a pinched nerve.
Shoulder impingement is a common cause of shoulder pain. It’s also known as impingement syndrome or swimmer’s shoulder, since it’s common in swimmers. It’s also common in other athletes who use their shoulders a lot, such as baseball or softball players.
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach your upper arm bone to your shoulder. They help you lift and rotate your arm. The rotator cuff sits under the top of the shoulder, which is called the acromion. If you have shoulder impingement, your rotator cuff catches or rubs against the acromion. When you lift your arm, the space (bursa) between the rotator cuff and acromion narrows, which increases pressure. The increased pressure irritates the rotator cuff, leading to impingement.
The main symptom of shoulder impingement is sudden pain in your shoulder when you lift your arm overhead or backward. Other symptoms include:
What causes it?
Many cases of shoulder impingement are caused by overuse. Repeated use of the shoulder can make the tendons in your shoulder swell, leading them to “catch” on your upper shoulder bone. In other cases, there’s no known cause.who atrisk of having it?
Playing sports that require using your shoulders for overhead or forceful motion is the biggest risk factor for developing shoulder impingement. Common activities that could cause this include:
Occupations that require lots of heavy lifting or arm movement also increase your risk. These include:
Both old age and previous shoulder injuries, such as a disl0cation, are also risk factors for shoulder impingement. Some people also have an unusually shaped acromion that increases their risk.
Your doctor may start by asking you some questions about any previous injuries as well as your exercise habits. Next, they may ask you to do a series of motions using your shoulder while they check for any unusual movement. This will also help your doctor rule out other conditions, such as a Pinched Nerve.
In some cases, you may also need an X-ray to rule out Arthritis or check for bone changes, such as a spur, that could lead to impingement.
If your doctor thinks that you have a more serious rotator cuff injury or they still can’t diagnose you, they might use an MRI to get a better look at your shoulder.
There are many types of treatment available for shoulder impingement, depending on how severe your case is.
Rest is very important when it comes to treating shoulder impingement. Avoid strenuous exercise or any movements that make the pain worse. This is especially important if you’re an athlete
While it’s best to not move your shoulder too much, avoid using a sling to immobilize your arm completely. This can lead to more weakness and stiffness in your shoulder.
Try placing an ice pack on your shoulder for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, a few times a day, to reduce pain and any swelling you might have.
Shoulder impingement usually responds well to physical therapy, which uses gentle exercises to rebuild strength and range of motion. Your doctor can refer you to a physical therapist who specializes in shoulder injuries.
Your physical therapy sessions will likely focus on the muscles in your shoulder, arm, and chest, which can help to improve the function of your rotator cuff. If you’re an athlete or work in a field that requires frequent use of your shoulder, your physical therapist can teach you proper techniques to reduce your chance of recurrence.
Exercise
They may also give you some exercises that you can do at home, which may help you recover faster. Just make sure you don’t overdo it.these four easy and quick shoulder stretches that you can do at work to help alleviate shoulder pain.
Desk angels
Sitting straight in your chair with perfect posture, place your arms at shoulder level with a 90-degree bend in your elbows.
Keeping your head and torso stationary, slowly move your arms overhead, reaching your hands toward the ceiling. Try to keep your arms in line with your ears as you move up to the ceiling and slowly back to the starting position.
You should feel some pulling in your midback, which helps to relax your spine.
Repeat 10 times.
Shoulder rolls
Keep your back straight and your chin tucked in.
Roll your shoulders forward, up, back, and down in a circular motion.
Repeat 10 times, then reverse.
Upper trapezius stretch
Sitting with your back straight, tilt your head sideways toward your shoulder.
For a larger stretch, drop your shoulder blade on the opposite side toward the floor.
Hold for 10 seconds.
Repeat twice on each side.
Armpit stretch
This stretch will make it look like you’re trying to smell your own armpit, so perhaps you should perform this one when you’re sure no one is looking.
Sit with your back straight.
Rotate your head sideways so that your nose is directly above your armpit.
Hold the back of your head with your hand and use it to gently push your nose closer to your armpit. Don’t push to the point of discomfort.
Hold for 10 seconds.
Repeat twice on each side.
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