Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Description
This is a painful pinching of soft tissues in your shoulder. It happens when these tissues rub and press against a part of your shoulder blade called the “acromion.” This can irritate your rotator cuff tendons, and also a soft sac called the “subacromial bursa. Rowers, swimmers and weight lifters are especially prone to this condition, also known as rotator cuff tendonitis.
Animations
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Causes & Triggers
You’re at risk for shoulder impingement syndrome if you do a lot of overhead motions with your arms. It’s a problem for swimmers, baseball players and tennis players. It’s also a problem for painters and construction workers. It can result from a shoulder injury. And sometimes we don’t know why it develops.
- Unknown but perhaps aggravated by:
- Injury
- Repetitive above-the-shoulder motion
Signs & Symptoms
If you have shoulder impingement syndrome, your shoulder may feel tender. It may swell. You may feel pain and stiffness when you lift and lower your arm. You may feel sudden pain when you reach above your head. Your pain may spread from the front of your shoulder to your arm. The pain may get better with rest, but it may still hurt.
- Limited range of motion
- Pain
- Weakness
Tips & Treatment
Your shoulder may improve with medications and rest. You may benefit from steroid injections and physical therapy. If these don’t help, you may need surgery. Your healthcare provider can create a care plan that is right for your needs.
- This condition is common in young athletes, especially those who participate in sports involving throwing or repetitive overhead motion such as tennis, swimming and weightlifting.
- In adults, this condition is common to middle-aged people engaged in repetitive overhead motion work, such as construction or painting.
- Non-surgical treatment may include rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication, corticosteroid injection and/or physical therapy.
- Surgical repair may be necessary.
