Shoulder Pain Impingement Video Explainer
Shoulder pain is the most common complaint we see in practice. Sharp localized traumatic cases, dull achy type of discomfort, or radiating down your arm can indicate there’s an issue with either muscles and ligaments around our shoulders that keep us from moving freely–or even worse: possible tears!
The good news though? Most people don’t need surgery because their symptoms do NOT always point towards something serious like joint damage; instead, they’re able to get relief through different types of treatment options including oral medications. For this article we will be focusing on the major type of shoulder pain, “shoulder impingement“, & lightly touch upon other possible causes of shoulder pain.
Causes Of Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain is a common complaint, but it doesn’t always mean that you are going to need surgery. Shoulder pain can be caused by:
- tears in the rotator cuff and labrum
- neck issues
- muscle imbalances
- Shoulder impingement
- inflammation
- bursitis
- Trauma to the shoulder joint, such as from a fall or sports injury
Even though they are many possible causes of shoulder pain. There is one major cause that professionals can agree on. Shoulder impingement affects the greater majority. When a muscle spasms because of strain or overuse, it can pull the shoulder forward or back causing impingement on your shoulder. An impingement means that your shoulder does not sit correctly on its girdle & if the shoulder is not tracking correctly then it can cause irritation, inflammation & pain.
What Are The Symptoms Of Shoulder Pain Impingement?
Shoulder pain impingement is a common condition that can be caused by several different factors. The shoulder joint is made up of three bones: the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the arm bone (humerus). These three bones work together to create one of the most complex joints in the body. Your symptoms may vary depending on the cause of your shoulder pain. The following are typical symptoms suffered through shoulder impingement
- Sharp localized pain
- Restricted range of motion
- dull archy pain
- radiating pain in the shoulder down to the arm
Once you have identified your symptoms then we can work on finding the root cause of your shoulder impingement. Afterward, we can correctly suggest the proper treatment for your shoulder pain.
Causes Of Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement is a common condition in which the tendons, muscles, or bursa of the shoulder become compressed. This can cause pain and inflammation that impairs your ability to move freely and perform activities.
The following are some of the main causes of shoulder impingement:
- Arthritis – Arthritis may make it difficult to move your arm through certain ranges of motion. Also, when you have arthritis, you’re more likely to experience pain during certain movements, such as raising your arm above your head or reaching forward with your arm bent at the elbow.
- Rotator cuff tear – A rotator cuff tear occurs when one or more of the tendons that attach muscle to bone in the shoulder becomes torn. This can cause instability within the joint and lead to further damage if not treated properly.
- Trauma – Trauma from an injury can result in damage to soft tissue (muscles, tendons, and ligaments), leading to inflammation within the area and pain when moving your arm in certain ways.
How To Treat Shoulder Pain Impingement
To correct this impingement, the muscles pulling toward the dysfunction need to be calmed down while the opposing muscles need to be strengthened. Manual therapy can help calm the spasmed muscles and targeted exercises will help to stabilize the joint. If you are experiencing shoulder pain and would like to find the best solution to get out of that pain, contact us at HERE and one of our trained therapists will help find the root of your pain and show you the best path out!
