Shoulder pain is a common complaint that can significantly impact your daily life. While many people associate shoulder pain with a rotator cuff tear, another frequent culprit is shoulder impingement.
Coastal Orthopedics specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of shoulder conditions, including impingement. Learn how shoulder impingement develops, as well as symptoms, treatment, and recovery.
Understanding Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement syndrome is believed to be the most common cause of shoulder pain, accounting for 44% to 65% of all shoulder complaints.
Shoulder impingement occurs when the space between the top of your shoulder blade (acromion) and the head of your upper arm bone (humerus) narrows.
This space is called the subacromial space, where your rotator cuff tendons and a fluid-filled sac called the bursa reside. These soft tissues can become compressed and irritated when this space shrinks, leading to pain and inflammation.
Causes and Symptoms
Several factors can contribute to shoulder impingement:
- Overuse: Repetitive overhead activities, like painting, throwing, or certain sports, can put excessive strain on your shoulder joint, leading to impingement.
- Bone Spurs: Abnormal bone growths (bone spurs) can develop on the underside of the acromion, further reducing the subacromial space.
- Poor Posture: Slouching or rounding your shoulders can alter the mechanics of your shoulder joint and contribute to impingement.
- Weakness or Imbalance: Weakness in the rotator cuff muscles or imbalances between muscle groups around the shoulder can make you more susceptible to impingement.
Common symptoms of shoulder impingement include:
- Pain with overhead activities or reaching behind your back
- A dull ache or sharp pain in the front or side of your shoulder
- Pain that worsens at night
- Weakness in the shoulder
- Limited range of motion
Treatment Options
At Coastal Orthopedics, we take a comprehensive approach to treating shoulder impingement. Our experienced team will conduct a thorough evaluation, including a physical exam and imaging studies, to accurately diagnose your condition and develop a personalized treatment plan. Treatment options may include:
- Conservative Measures:
- Rest and activity modification to avoid aggravating activities
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation
- Physical therapy to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, improve flexibility, and restore normal standard mechanics
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections can relieve temporary pain and reduce inflammation in the subacromial space.
- Surgery: In cases where conservative treatments are unsuccessful, surgical intervention may be necessary. The most common procedure is subacromial decompression, which involves removing a small portion of the acromion to create more space for the rotator cuff tendons and bursa.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Recovery from shoulder impingement depends on the severity of your condition and the chosen treatment approach. With conservative treatments, you can expect gradual improvement over several weeks. If you undergo surgery, recovery may take several months. Physical therapy offers many advantages to those in recovery, helping you regain strength, flexibility, and full range of motion in your shoulder.
Next Steps for Shoulder Impingement
If you're experiencing shoulder pain, don't hesitate to contact Coastal Orthopedics. Our dedicated team is committed to providing you with the highest quality care to help you regain pain-free shoulder function and return to your active lifestyle.
