Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

What is Shoulder impingement syndrome and how to treat it?

About

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common form of shoulder pain.

Shoulder impingement syndrome is caused by the overhead activity of shoulder like swimming painting tennis playing. It may also harm the rotator cuff tendons. [1]

- Cannot be self-diagnosed
- Treatable by a specialist
- Imaging and tests may rarely be required
- Medium-term: resolves within a few months

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a recurring shoulder pain that may range from mild to severe and may last for weeks. This condition may restrict the normal movement of the shoulder. Swimmers are the common victims hence it is also termed as swimmer’s shoulder.

Symptoms

Self-diagnosable:
Pain and stiffness may be experienced in the shoulder and adjacent areas. The doctor may require motion tests. MRI’s may be demanded in some cases.
Pain areas include arms and shoulder joints
Weakness or numbness in the shoulder
Pain aggravates at night
Shoulder movement restrictions

Treatment

Self-care: Rest the hand and applying an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes may ease the pain. Exercises advised by physiotherapists may improve limb mobility and relax the pain symptoms.

Medications: Over-the-counter NSAIDs and pain relievers can help with pain. In severe cases, the doctor may prescribe injections to reduce pain. Surgery is the last resort to increase the space between your rotator cuff.

Specialists: If pain persists for a long time, consult an orthopedist. mfine is a one-stop solution for holistic treatment of cases such as these.