Subacromial Impingement: When Your Shoulder Says “Nope!”

Welcome to the world of shoulders—a magical place where arms move up, down, and all around. But, oh, what’s this?

Pinching / stabbing in the shoulder when putting on your coat, reaching to grab a mug from the top draw…

Yep, sounds like you’re dealing with subacromial impingement.

Don’t worry; we’re about to demystify this fancy term and throw in a dash of practical advice.

What on Earth Is Subacromial Impingement?

Imagine your shoulder joint is a crowded dance floor. You’ve got muscles, tendons, bones… and no personal space. Normally, everyone grooves along without any problems, but sometimes that tight space gets even tighter. The star of the show—the rotator cuff tendon—gets “pinched” under the acromion (the bony bit on top of your shoulder). The result? Pain, frustration, and a shoulder that moves about as smoothly as a rusty gate.

How Did This Happen?

• Repetitive Overhead Movements: Picture yourself lifting, reaching, or painting the ceiling like Michelangelo. Repeatedly. Your rotator cuff doesn’t like that. It can become overworked and inflamed which = reduction in space = increase chance of impingement

• Poor Posture: Desk warriors hunching over all day like Gollum shrinks that already-cramped shoulder space too = increase chance of impingement

• Structural Factors: Some people are just blessed with narrower subacromial spaces. Blame genetics for that one sorry

In short, if you’re repeatedly reaching overhead or have the posture of a bent paperclip, subacromial impingement is bound to rear its ugly head.

Signs You’ve Met Mr. Impingement

Wondering if it’s impingement or just a bad case of “I-slept-funny”? Here are some telltale signs:

• Sharp Shoulder Pain when you lift your arm, especially to the side or above your head. Trying to wave or hail a cab? Forget about it.

• Weakness in the Shoulder that makes simple tasks feel like a gym workout.

• Reduced Range of Motion so putting on a jacket or reaching for the top shelf becomes a herculean task.

If you’re ticking most of these boxes, it’s time to face the music: you’ve probably got subacromial impingement.

Diagnosis: It’s Not Rocket Science (But It’s Close)

Now, a proper diagnosis is key. A physiotherapist (yours truly) can do a range of motion tests, ask you to perform some specific movements (which will probably hurt if you’ve got impingement), and check for muscle imbalances.

In some cases, we may even suggest an MRI or ultrasound to get a good look at what’s happening beneath the hood.

Treatment: Let’s Make Friends with Your Shoulder Again

Good news: surgery is the last resort. Instead, we focus on conservative treatments, which means giving your shoulder some TLC (and maybe a little tough love). Here’s the game plan:

1. Relative Rest

No, that doesn’t mean turning into a couch potato. It means avoiding repetitive overhead activities until your shoulder stops sending you hate mail. Keep things below shoulder height for a bit, yeah?

2. Strengthening Exercises

We’ll work on strengthening the muscles around your shoulder joint. Think of it as building an army to protect your shoulder from further attacks. Exercises will focus on improving rotator cuff and scapular muscle strength, which will, in turn, stabilize the joint.

3. Postural Adjustments

Slouching is out; good posture is in. We’ll get you standing taller than ever before. Stretching exercises, along with some reminders to pull those shoulders back, can make a huge difference.

4. Manual Therapy

Picture this: massage, joint mobilizations, and techniques designed to loosen up stiff muscles. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds. Manual therapy helps restore mobility and relieves that “cramped dance floor” feeling.

5. Anti-Inflammatories (If Needed)

NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can help if inflammation is high. Remember, this isn’t a “pop a pill and you’re cured” scenario; they’re just part of the toolkit.

Let’s turn that shoulder frown upside down!

Don’t wait until it becomes something bigger—reach out and book an appointment or drop a comment below with any questions about shoulder pain or mobility issues.

Let’s work together to get you back to moving freely and without pain!