What Is Shoulder Impingement?
What Does Shoulder Impingement Feel Like?
The typical symptoms of shoulder impingement syndrome include difficulty reaching up behind the back, pain with overhead use of the arm and weakness of shoulder muscles. This because shoulder impingement syndrome causes severe weakness, making it challenging for you to elevate your arm.
The term "Impingement" refers to mechanical compression and/or wear of the rotator cuff tendons. It's all in relation to the rotator cuff, which consists of four muscles which connect "the humeral head" (upper part of the shoulder joint) with the scapula, otherwise known as the shoulder blade.
Shoulder Impingement and the Rotator Cuff
Why is the rotator cuff important? A couple of reasons:
To maintain the humeral head within the glenoid (socket) during normal shoulder function and...
Upholding shoulder strength during many activities, whether it be high-level athletics or merely reaching into the cupboard for some gourmet fancy pink Himalayan salt.
Normally, the rotator cuff glides smoothly between the undersurface of the acromion, the bone at the point of the shoulder, and the humeral head.
Sounds a little scientific (which it is), but all this mumbo-jumbo basically means that these sections of the shoulder all contribute healthy, optimally-functioning shoulders
How Does Shoulder Impingement Occur?
Glad you asked. Any process which compromises this normal gliding function may lead to mechanical impingement.
Common causes include weakening and degeneration within the tendon due to aging, the formation of bone spurs and/or inflammatory tissue within the space above the rotator cuff (subacromial space), and overuse injuries.
Overuse activities that can lead to impingement are most commonly seen in athletes such tennis players, baseball players, and swimmers.
How We Diagnose Shoulder Impingement?
The diagnosis of shoulder impingement can be fairly easily achieved when evaluation of a combination of patient history and a thorough physical examination.
Impingement commonly causes general pain that is exacerbated by using the shoulder to execute an overhead-type activity. Another complaint we see with impingement is people waking in the middle of the night or having trouble sleeping as the result of shoulder pain.
Confirmation of the diagnosis can be ascertained by the physician by manipulation of the shoulder during examination. We also have x-rays, which can identify bone spurs or subacromial narrowing.
MRIs are another tool we have to take a closer look at the rotator cuff to see if we are dealing with a more advanced injury or condition.
How Is Shoulder impingement Treated?
Firstly, you can't do what you could normally do if you have shoulder impingement. Sounds obvious, but for athletes, this often means shutting down what you love to do most- activities such as pitching a baseball, swimming, or whacking a tennis ball in the tradition of Bjorn Borg (or Serena Williams, for you youngsters).
Next, your physician could recommend:
An antiinflammatory and some specific exercises which are meant to re-build the flexibility and strenght of the rotator cuff muscles.
Cortisone shots to help ease the pain of the condition
An exercise program which will be monitored by an athletic trainer, a physical therapist, or your physician.
When Do You Need Surgery For Shoulder impingement?
In most cases, shoulder impingement can be treated nonsurgically. However, if conservative treatments do not help you manage the painful symptoms, we may recommend surgical intervention.
Shoulder impingement surgery can be done arthroscopically or open. During the procedure, the tissue irritating the shoulder cuff is removed.
How long does it take to heal shoulder impingement?
Recovery time for shoulder impingement can vary. Shoulder impingement usually takes about three to six months to heal completely. More severe cases can take up to a year to heal. However, you can usually start returning to your normal activities within two to four weeks
