Subacromial impingement syndrome, or so-called impingement syndrome, is a common problem that can be the cause of shoulder pain. This condition is associated with a pinching of the muscle tendons or bursa between the bony segments that make up the shoulder complex. This pinching occurs when the arm is lifted, so one of the risk factors is repetitive overhead movements.
Over time, this constant squeezing and irritation can lead to inflammation (tendinitis) of any of the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles or the underlying bursa. If timely measures are not taken, thinning and tearing of the tendons may occur, necessitating surgical intervention.
The main symptoms are associated with sudden pain in the shoulder when lifting the arm or moving the arm backwards. The so-called painful arc is characteristic. Other symptoms may be:
In cases where there is prolonged irritation and damage to the tendons, ruptures (tears) of these tendons can occur, leading to a feeling of significant weakness of the arm. In these cases, a person may have significant difficulty lifting their arm.
Causes can be due to anatomical deformities in some of the bones that make up the shoulder complex, but more often it is due to overuse. Overuse is associated with the frequent performance of repetitive motions that can lead to swelling of the tendons thereby "hooking" them into the upper humerus (acromion).
It can also be caused by weakness of the rotator cuff muscles, poor body posture combined with weakness of the shoulder girdle musculature, but it can also occur after a shoulder injury.
There are many different treatments, depending on how serious your condition is.
Drug therapy. In these cases, reliance is placed on drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They help with controlling the inflammatory process, reducing swelling of the tendons and reducing pain. Medication therapy is also good to combine with physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy has been successfully incorporated into the treatment plan for impingement syndrome. Gentle exercises that emphasize regaining muscle strength and range of motion can be incorporated. The muscles of the shoulder, arm and chest are targeted and can support rotator cuff function. It is also good to pay attention to the correct technique of performing certain movements.
Our team of specialists have summarised a few ideas to help you reduce or prevent symptoms:
If you have any questions or would like to consult with specialists to help you recover faster, you can contact us - the Okto team. At our clinic, we successfully help our patients cope with this painful and uncomfortable condition. It is important for us to achieve good and lasting results together.
