The following symptoms and complaints may indicate impingement syndrome of the shoulder:
Early stage
- Acute onset of shoulder pain – worsens with exertion, especially during overhead activities
- Radiation of pain into the distal (“away from the body”) insertion of the deltoid muscle (triangular skeletal muscle located above the shoulder joint; it serves to elevate the upper arm) on the humerus (upper arm bone)
- Barely noticeable pain at rest
- Painful arc (“painful arc”) – In this case, pain is triggered by active abduction (lateral path or the spreading of the arm), especially in the range between 60 ° and 120 °. In contrast, passive movements can be painless.
Later stage
- Pain at night – lying on the affected side is often not possible
- Painful restriction of movement with even small movements (due to adhesion (adherence) and fibrosis (pathological increase in connective tissue) of the bursa subacromialis (bursa between the acromioclavicular joint and the supraspinatus tendon (attachment tendon of the supraspinatus muscle/upper spine muscle)).
- Increased pain at rest
