Everything that disrupts the easy flow of things irritates us. Shoulder pain is one of the very common problems that we ignore all the time until it gets unbearable and limits our movement. It irritates! But we ignore it often.

 The shoulder has several joints that work together with bones to allow the arm to move in different directions. These joints are flexible and are prone to conditions like injury, swelling, dislocation, impingements, sprains, arthritis, etc. The shoulder pain often goes unnoticed or misdiagnosed, leading to severe painful conditions and limited arm mobility. Shoulder impingement is one of the major causes of shoulder pain.

Understanding the Severity of Shoulder Impingement.

Shoulder impingement is a medical condition where the tissues within and around the shoulder joints are inflamed or compressed. The acromion is the extension of bone at the upper outer edge of the shoulder blade. The distance between the acromion and the top of the upper arm bone decreases when one raises their arm upward. Shoulder impingement happens as a result of the swelling in the fluid-filled sac of the rotator cuff. The swollen tissue rubs against the shoulder bone due to narrow space. This problem is common for people who do repetitive overhead actions and follow poor posture. People may use different terms like swimmer’s shoulder, and rotator-cuff tendinitis to refer to Shoulder Impingement Syndrome (SIS). It can start suddenly or come gradually.Overtime, this compression can lead to tears in the rotator cuff.

Watch out for these symptoms.

• Pain
• Weakness and Stiffness
• Limited movements
• Sleeping disturbance
• Clicks or crepitus–Painful cracking or clicking sounds while lifting our arms.

Learning the factors that cause Shoulder Impingement.

Overuse and age are the important factors of shoulder impingement.

• Repetitive overhead movements: Some activities like lifting, throwing, packing, gymnastics,and sports like swimming, volleyball, and tennis require repetitive upward and backward movements. The risk of shoulder impingement is high in these actions.
• Age: Bone spur occurs due to ‘wear’ and ‘tear’. The tendons and fluid-filled sacsweaken as we age, exposing them to injury and dislocation.
• PoorPosture: Postures like slouching or bending forward cause changes in the working mechanism of the shoulder. It narrows the space in the shoulder. It compresses and limits the actions.
• MuscleImbalance: The imbalanced or improper muscle proportion causes alterations in the movement patterns. The weak or tight muscles in the shoulder often lead to impingement.
• Injuries: Injuries, accidents, falls, or dislocation in the shoulder joint.
• Anatomical Abnormalities.

Prevention is the first step.

• Incorporation of exercises in the daily routine to strengthen the rotator cuff.
• Keep a proper posture.
• Always warm up before sports and activities that involve repetitive shoulder movements.
• Take rest and seek clinical advice if you feel pain.
• Avoid repetitive strain. Rest and stretch shoulders often.
• Do not stop moving your shoulder completely.
• Self-care: Rest and use ice to reduce pain and inflammation.

Understanding Conservative Treatments for Shoulder Impingement

• Early diagnosis of the problem.
• Imaging tests like special X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds to diagnose the problem and to deliver a suitable treatment.
• Physical therapy strengthens the muscles, restores flexibility, and enhances movements.
• Anti-inflammatory and pain management medication.
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation.
• Regenerative medicines to treat tissue damage.

Surgical Treatments for Shoulder Impingement

The advancement in the field of medicine and technology has brought tremendous change in surgical procedures. Minimally invasive procedures like arthroscopic shoulder surgeries are widely used to cure shoulder impingement. The characteristics of ‘no hospitalization’ and ‘fastest recovery’ cater to our convenience.

1. Subacromial Decompression:  Subacromial space contains rotator cuff, tendons, fluid-filled sac, etc. in the shoulder. In this surgical method, bone spurs or tissue from the subacromial space is removed to reduce pressure on the rotator cuff. Arthroscopic surgery is used to cure this condition.
2. Acromioplasty: The bony structure on the shoulder blade (acromion) is removed or reshaped to create more space for the flexible movement of the rotator cuff.
3. Rotator Cuff Repair: If shoulder impingement is accompanied by a rotator cuff tear, the torn parts of the rotator cuff are stitched back together. It relieves the pain and discomfort. The minimally invasive arthroscopic shoulder surgery is performed to cure this problem.
4. The type of surgery, whether it is open or arthroscopic, is planned and executed accordingly concerning the problem and the condition of the patient. A well-experienced and expert doctor can recommend the best.

Book Your Appointment with the best ‘shoulder specialist’ in Bangalore.

Ensure the best Orthopedic consultation with the ‘Shoulder Specialist’, Dr. Banarji B H, one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in Bangalore, with over 20 years of clinical experience. He is famous in the field of Arthroscopy and upper limb reconstructive surgery. He is one of the pioneers in performing advanced arthroscopy like rotator cuff repair. The doctor provides exceptional and innovative treatments in the multispecialty hospital, Sakra World Hospital, Bangalore, and Dr. Banarji Shoulder Center at Koramangala, Bangalore.

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