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Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Shoulder impingement syndrome is caused by compression of the tendons
of the rotator cuff between a part of the shoulder blade and the head
of the humerus. This can become a chronic inflammatory condition that
may lead to a weakening of the tendons of the rotator cuff, a situation
that may result in a torn rotator cuff. Initial treatment for an impinged
shoulder includes rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications (sometimes
including steroid injections).
The vast majority of patient are able to get relief with a simple series of stretching exercises and ice or heat. Ice helps to cool down the inflammation, heat helps to warm up the muscles around the shoulder and get rid of some of the muscular tension. If you have a case of shoulder impingement now, a relatively inexpensive wrap for your shoulder can do wonders. These can be hard to find, but you can order the ones that we like directly from amazon.com by clicking here: shoulder wraps
30 minutes of cool followed by 30 minutes of warmth is a great idea before doing the exercises suggested in our rehabiliation section. Click here for rehabiliation exercises
When shoulder surgery is necessary, the
surgical procedures used by doctors are designed to make more room for
the tendons of the rotator cuff. This is accomplished by removing bone
spurs that the tendon rubs on in order to make more room for the tendon
to glide normally. This type of surgery is called an "acromioplasty").
At the same time, a lubricating sack between the rotator cuff and the
underside of the acromion (known as the bursa) that is inflamed by the
impingement process is also removed. The surgery for shoulder impingement
syndrome is known as subacromial decompression.
The information in this section is divided into the following four categories:
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