Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common cause of shoulder pain. It occurs when a tendon inside the shoulder rubs or catches on nearby tissue and bone as you lift your arm. The rotator cuff tendon, which connects the muscles around your shoulder joint to the top of your arm, is often affected. The space between the acromion and rotator cuff narrows when you raise your arm to shoulder height, and the acromion can rub against (or impinge on) the tendon and the bursa, causing irritation and pain.
Symptoms of shoulder impingement include pain in the top and outer side of your shoulder, difficulty reaching up behind your back, and weakness in your arm. Physical therapy is the most important treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome. In most cases, you’ll only need one or two in-office visits to learn how to continue to do physical therapy on your own at home. You’ll learn stretching exercises to improve the range of motion of your shoulder. As your pain lessens, you can begin strengthening exercises to improve your shoulder strength and flexibility. Steroid injections may also be used to reduce inflammation and pain. If your pain does not improve after a few weeks of exercises, you should go back to a GP or physiotherapist for further evaluation.
