What is Shoulder Impingement?
This occurs when the shoulders rotator cuff tendons are trapped and compressed during shoulder movements which leads to injury to the shoulder tendons and bursa resulting in painful shoulder movements.
Who can have shoulder impingement?
- People who play sports such as tennis, golf, swimming, weight lifting, or throwing a ball.
- People whose jobs involve painting, moving boxes or construction workers
Can physiotherapy help people with shoulder impingement?
Yes. Physiotherapy is an effective treatment in the management of shoulder impingement with the goal to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as to prevent further impingement and tissue damage.
What are the causes of shoulder impingement?
Bony spurs
Inadequate space between the acromion bone located in the shoulder and the rotator cuff muscles
Overuse injury from sports and manual jobs
Ageing
Previous shoulder injuries
What are the symptoms of shoulder impingement?
Minor but constant pain in your arm
Pain that goes from the front of your shoulder to the side of your arm
Pain that gets worse at night
Shoulder or arm muscle weakness
Pain can often be brought on by lifting or elevating the arm, known as a painful arc.
People sometimes describe a sharp pain brought on by reaching into their back pocket or above their heads
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