What is shoulder impingement?
Shoulder impingement is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause shoulder pain. These include:
- rotator cuff pain.
- Sub-acromial bursitis
- shoulder joint osteoarthritis
- calcific tendinitis
To diagnose these conditions accurately requires an ultrasound scan. This carried out as part of your initial appointment, you do not need an MRI or an x-ray. Shoulder impingement is treated with conservative management and a course of physiotherapy to reduce your pain, restore full movement and strengthen the appropriate muscles. If this fails to improve your pain, an ultrasound-guided injection and can provide fast, effective pain relief.
What are the symptoms of shoulder impingement?
The symptoms of shoulder impingement are:
- Pain located at the shoulder and into your arm
- Pain that is made worse when you lift your arm to the side i.e., a painful arc
- Pain is worse at night and often affect your ability to sleep and you are unable to lie on the painful shoulder
If this sounds like your pain, read on…
What other conditions can mimic osteoarthritis of the shoulder?
If this does not sound like your pain there are other conditions that can mimic the pain of shoulder impingement such as:
- acromio-clavicular (AC) joint osteoarthritis
- frozen shoulder
- shoulder joint osteoarthritis
Shoulder impingement versus frozen shoulder?
Shoulder impingement causes pain in the shoulder, whereas frozen shoulder typically causes pain and stiffness in the joint. Both conditions can cause pain at night, but frozen shoulder is known to cause more severe pain, especially if you move the arm too quickly in a certain direction. Once you have triggered the pain in frozen shoulder, it can take a long time to settle. Shoulder impingement can affect people of all ages. Frozen shoulder normally effects though aged 40-60 (females> males).