Shoulder
> Impingement Syndrome
What is Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?
Shoulder impingement
syndrome is a condition that occurs when the rotator
cuff, the muscles and tendons that raise and rotate
your arm, become pinched beneath the acromion, which
is the part of the your shoulder blade that makes up
the "roof" of your shoulder.
Impingement syndrome usually stems
from repeated stress to the shoulder caused by activities
that involve throwing or raising the arm. Sports that
require motions that can lead to shoulder impingement
syndrome include baseball or softball, swimming, tennis,
and skiing. Prolonged wear and tear on the shoulder
joint can lead to bone spurs on the acromion, which
can worsen impingement by further reducing the space
between the acromion and rotator cuff.
Considerations and Treatments |
|
Many patients respond well to non-operative
treatment which includes rest, NSAID'S, physical therapy
to improve flexability and strength of the shoulder
and a cotisone injection. Patients who have persistent
pain following non-operative treatment may benefit from
arthroscopic subacromial decompression, a surgical procedure
that removes the inflammed tissue (bursitis) and a spur
on the front edge of the acromion.
Your physician will ask about your
activities, which may have caused your shoulder pain.
You will be asked when the soreness or pain began, where
in your shoulder it occurs, how long it lasts, and what
lessens or worsens it. If you have had any prior shoulder
injuries, your physician will ask about the treatments
you have tried in the past. Physicians also typically
ask about other conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes,
and allergies, and medications currently being taken.
You may also be asked about your physical and athletic
goals – information that will help your physician
decide what treatment might be best for you in achieving
those goals.
Your physician
will palpate, or feel with the fingers, your shoulder
for areas of tenderness. Your shoulder’s range
of motion will be evaluated by raising your arm and
rotating it toward and away from your body. These movements
are performed while you are sitting up or lying on your
back. You also may be asked to reach behind your back
with the affected arm and hold that position. To determine
if you are suffering from impingement syndrome specifically,
your physician may press on your shoulder blade with
one hand while raising your arm above your head. If
this test produces pain, shoulder impingement is likely.
In some cases, physicians will perform this test again
after injecting a local anesthetic into your shoulder
to confirm the diagnosis.
|