Shoulder impingement syndrome is a chronic pain syndrome of the shoulder caused by the entrapment of structures under the acromion. Mostly the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle and the bursa located there are affected. The pain occurs mainly when the arm is spread sideways between 60° and 120°, when working overhead or under greater loads.
In the further course of the disease, movement restrictions may also occur. In most cases, conservative therapy with physiotherapy and physical therapy is initially recommended. Shoulder impingement syndrome can also be treated surgically, the aim being to expand the narrowed space under the acromion again. In any case, active therapy is a very important component in the treatment of pain and functional limitations. Comprehensive information on this topic can be found in the article: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Causes of the pain
The cause of pain in shoulder impingement syndrome is usually an incarceration and constant friction of the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle under the acromion. The bursa lying there can also be affected and irritated. The structures are sensitive to pain and can become inflexible and form calcified-like deposits when constantly overstressed and rubbed.
This leads to a further narrowing of the space under the acromion, which in turn can cause pain and restrict movement. The supraspinatus muscle is particularly stressed during overhead work and sports where the arms are used overhead, such as swimming, tennis, handball or basketball. These activities and sports increase the risk of developing shoulder impingement syndrome if the strain is sustained. Shoulder impingement syndrome typically occurs in middle and old age, as the muscle and tendon structures lose elasticity and tend to undergo structural changes. This article may also be of interest to you: Calcified shoulder
Symptoms
The most important symptom of shoulder impingement syndrome is pain, which usually increases as the disease progresses. Typical pain occurs mainly in the following cases: Especially typical in shoulder impingement syndrome is pain when the arm is spread sideways between 60° and 120°, which disappears when the arm is raised even further. If the pain syndrome persists for some time, a relieving posture is often adopted and the joint is moved less in all directions. This can also result in movement restrictions of the shoulder, especially during external rotation and abduction.
- Overhead work
- When lifting heavy loads
- When spreading the arm
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