Your shoulders get a workout each day. Everything from opening a door to brushing your teeth to lifting weights at the gym requires shoulder participation. And that makes your shoulders vulnerable to conditions like joint impingement.
Often hailed as one of the best shoulder surgeons in the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area, Dr. Sumit Dewanjee is very familiar with painful conditions affecting shoulder mobility. He leads our team at FXRX, a practice dedicated to patient-centered care that aims to keep you moving pain-free.
Read more from our FXRX team regarding shoulder joint impingement syndrome, the type of pain it causes, and what to expect during treatment.
Understanding shoulder joint impingement
Your shoulder has several major components, including the upper arm bone (humerus), collarbone (clavicle), and shoulder blade (scapula).
Rotator cuff tendons attach shoulder and biceps muscles to the bones and help hold the ball-and-socket portion of the shoulder (glenohumeral joint) in place.
There’s also a small fluid-filled sac (subacromial bursa) sandwiched between the rotator cuff tendons and the bone at the top of the shoulder blade (acromion). The bursa cushions the tendons and allows them to glide smoothly when you move your shoulder.
The shoulder has a greater range of motion than other joints, thanks in part to these structures working together when you move the arm. But this mobility also makes the joint vulnerable to injury.
Shoulder joint impingement is a common condition that develops when the rotator cuff tendons or bursa become pinched, compressed, or irritated during shoulder movements.
Causes of shoulder impingement
Several factors contribute to shoulder impingement, including:
Anatomical variations
The shape and structure of the top portion of the shoulder blade (acromion) can predispose individuals to impingement.
Overuse or repetitive movements
Activities requiring overhead motions (e.g., swimming, painting, tennis, volleyball) can strain the shoulder. Young athletes with extensive training schedules are particularly prone to shoulder impingement.
Poor posture
Rounded shoulders or a forward head posture can narrow the subacromial space.
Muscle imbalances
Weakness or tightness in muscles around the shoulder can alter joint mechanics.
Symptoms of shoulder impingement
The symptoms are typically mild initially but tend to worsen without diagnosis and treatment of shoulder impingement.
You may experience:
- Pain, usually at the front or side of the affected shoulder
- Discomfort and stiffness when lifting your arm or reaching overhead
- Increased pain at night
- Weakness that interferes with lifting activities
- Difficulty moving the shoulder through its full range of motion
- Pain with throwing, serving, or spiking a ball during football, volleyball, and other sports
These symptoms often progress without medical attention and can eventually interfere with even simple daily tasks like buckling a seatbelt or washing your hair.
Diagnosing and treating shoulder joint impingement
Your experience at FXRX starts with a detailed review of your medical history and symptoms and a physical exam.
Dr. Dewanjee assesses your range of motion, strength, and tenderness around the shoulder. He may also recommend advanced imaging studies for a better look at the joint and tendons.
Treatment for joint impingement focuses on reducing pain and inflammation, improving shoulder mechanics, and addressing contributing factors, such as posture and muscle imbalances.
Options include:
- Avoiding activities that aggravate symptoms
- Physical therapy to improve shoulder mechanics
- Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories to alleviate pain and inflammation
- Targeted injections to reduce inflammation in the subacromial space
When conservative treatments fail, Dr. Dewanjee may recommend minimally invasive arthroscopy to correct the issues causing your shoulder pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Shoulder joint impingement can significantly affect daily life, but early diagnosis and treatment can lead to successful outcomes.
Schedule a visit at FXRX today for patient-centered shoulder treatment to restore pain-free mobility. Call our office in Tempe or Phoenix, Arizona, or request an appointment online.
