How We Sorted Annie's Shoulder Pain

When Annie first came to PhysioWorks she reported a painful shoulder that she just could lie on and do simple things like reaching into a kitchen cupboard.

She tried a dose of anti-inflammatory tablets but there was little change.Her GP arranged a scan for her shoulder which identified a shoulder impingement. Then she was referred to PhysioWorks for some TLC and shoulder treatment. 

Annie's physio confirmed shoulder impingement and set to shoulder treatment to address her issues. After just a few physio sessions, Annie's shoulder pain disappeared and she was able to lie upon her shoulder and start playing tennis and swim again. Yahoo!

Here's some more info about Shoulder Impingement.

What is Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a condition where your shoulders rotator cuff tendons are intermittently trapped and compressed during shoulder movements This causes injury to the shoulder tendons and bursa resulting in painful shoulder movements.

Impingement (impact on bone into rotator cuff tendon or bursa) should not occur during normal shoulder function. When it does happen, the rotator cuff tendon becomes inflamed and swollen, a condition called rotator cuff tendonitis. Likewise if the bursa becomes inflamed,shoulder bursitis will develop.

Both these conditions can co-exist or be present independently.

While a traumatic injury can occur eg fall, it is repeated movement of your arm into theimpingement zone overhead that most frequently causes the rotator cuff to contact the outer end of the shoulder blade (acromion). When this repeatedly occurs, the swollen rotator cuff is trapped and pinched under the acromion.

Injuries vary from mild tendon inflammation (tendonitis), bursitis (inflammed bursa), calcific tendonitis (bone forming within the tendon) through to partial and full thickness rotator cuff tendon tears, which may require surgery.

What Causes Shoulder Impingement?

The shoulders rotator cuff tendons are protected from simple knocks and bumps by bones (mainly the acromion) and ligaments that form a protective arch over the top of your shoulder.

In between the rotator cuff tendons and the bony arch is the subacromial bursa (a lubricating sack), which helps to protect the tendons from touching the bone and provide a smooth surface for the tendons to glide over.

However, nothing is foolproof. Any of these structures can be injured, whether they be your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or bursas.

Shoulder impingement has primary (structural) and secondary (posture & movement related) causes.

Read full article about Shoulder Impingement.