Shoulder Impingement Therapy
Shoulder Impingement is the most common shoulder injury treated in physical therapy practices.
It results from pressure on the rotator cuff from part of the shoulder blade (scapula) as the arm is lifted.
The rotator cuff is a tendon linking four muscles: the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the subscapularis, and the teres minor. These muscles cover the “ball” of the shoulder (head of the humerus). The muscles work together to lift and rotate the shoulder.
The acromion is the front edge of the shoulder blade. It sits over and in front of the humeral head. As the arm is lifted, the acromion rubs, or “impinges” on, the surface of the rotator cuff. This causes pain and limits movement.
Shoulder Impingement is typically related to one’s posture. We are all affected by today’s technology and as technology improves and media devices get smaller, the posture of the head, neck and shoulders are less anatomical correct and create an underlying impingement.
Treatment includes working with the patient to improvement their posture, identifying their underlying causes and offering them corrective solution.