Shoulder Impingement – What is it?

Shoulder Impingement

One of the most common physical complaints in the community is shoulder pain.  A variety of factors can cause shoulder pain but one of the more common is due to shoulder impingement or rotator cuff impingement.

Shoulder impingement occurs when changes in shoulder blade posture, reduction in rotator cuff strength combine to alter the biomechanics of the shoulder and result in a pinching of the tendon or bursa in the shoulder.

Repeated pinching of the tendon can result in rotator cuff tendinopathy or subacromial bursitis.  These two conditions can occur together or individually.

What can cause the impingement?

Impingement can gradually develop through life and most pain free shoulders will have signs of impingement.  Most of the time they will remain pain free.  Sometimes the pain can begin following a fall onto the outstretched hand or elbow.  Sometimes repetitive lifting and reaching especially in the range of just below to just above shoulder height can also aggravate the pain.

What happens then?

As you can see in the image the tendon passes between two bones, the acromion and the humerus.  The bursa sits between the tendon and the acromion and is designed to protect the tendon from hitting the bone.

As the shoulder lifts the rotator cuff works to stabilise the humerus in the joint.  As your shoulder lifts above your head, any weakness in your rotator cuff will result in pinching or impingement of the tendon or bursa.

The tendon and bursa in this impingement area have a poor blood supply. As a result this area heals slower when compared to other areas in the body.  Physiotherapy is effective in reducing shoulder pain. This can be through the use of stretching and strengthening exercises as well as other modalities.

If you suffer from shoulder impingement a visit to your physiotherapist at Fountain Gate Physiotherapy is essential.