Shoulder impingement syndrome

Shoulder impingement occurs when the acromion, or the top outside edge of your shoulder blade, brushes against (“impinges on”) or pinches your rotator cuff beneath it, producing pain and irritation.

What is a rotator cuff, and what does it do?

The rotator cuff is a set of four muscles that start on the shoulder blade and attach as a “cuff” of the tendon to your arm bone (humerus).

Your rotator cuff is used to assist in raising your arm overhead and rotating your arm towards and away from your body. The rotator cuff is seen in the figure sitting in a tiny gap between two bones in the shoulder (the acromion and the humerus).

This position leaves the rotator cuff vulnerable to being squeezed or “impinged” between these bones, resulting in “impingement syndrome.”

How does shoulder impingement syndrome develop?

When your rotator cuff is inflamed or damaged, it expands similarly to how your ankle swells when it is sprained, because the rotator cuff is surrounded by a bone.

Swelling lowers the amount of space around the rotator cuff, causing it to press on the acromion. The friction of the rotator cuff causes swelling, which narrows the area behind the acromion. In certain circumstances, bone spurs on the acromion bone might contribute to impingement by narrowing the area where the rotator cuff resides – to be even more restricted.

Who suffers from shoulder impingement?

Shoulder impingement syndrome is particularly frequent in those who participate in sports and other activities that require a lot of overhead rotational motion, such as swimming, baseball, volleyball, and tennis, as well as window cleaning and painting.

An injury, such as a fall onto an extended arm or straight onto the shoulder, can also cause shoulder impingement.

What is the prevalence of shoulder impingement?

Shoulder impingement syndrome is estimated to be the cause of 44% to 65% of all complaints of shoulder discomfort.

owing to overuse from repetitive activities of the shoulder, injury, or from age-related wear and strain.

Your bursa is swollen and irritated. Your bursa is the fluid-filled sac located between your tendon and your bone.

as well as the acromion. Your bursa facilitates the movement of your muscles and tendons over your bones. Overuse of the shoulder may cause your bursa to become inflamed.

Your acromion is not flat (you were born with this shape) or you have age-related bone spurs on your acromion.

What are the common signs and symptoms of shoulder impingement?

When your arms are extended above your head, you will experience shoulder pain.

Pain while raising your arm, lowering it from a higher posture, or reaching.

Tenderness and pain at the front of your shoulder.

Pain spreads from your front shoulder to the side of your arm.

Pain or achiness during night that impairs your ability to sleep This has an impact on your capacity to sleep.

When reaching behind your back, such as reaching into a back pocket or zipping up a zip, you may experience pain.

Weakness and stiffness in the shoulders and/or arms.

What is the treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome?

The purpose of shoulder impingement syndrome therapy is to alleviate discomfort and restore shoulder function. Rest, ice, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines, steroid injections, and physical therapy are all treatments for impingement syndrome.

Surgery

If nonsurgical therapies do not cure your discomfort, surgery is recommended. A subacromial decompression or arthroscopic shoulder decompression surgery removes a portion of the acromion to provide more room for the rotator cuff. This operation can be done arthroscopically, which is through tiny slits in your shoulder. Other shoulder disorders can be resolved at the time of surgery. Open surgery is another option. Meet Dr. Vasudeva Juvvadi to learn and discuss more about other treatment options including robotic surgery for shoulder impingement syndrome.