Shoulder Impingement: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment By Shoulder Braces

What is Shoulder Impingement?

The shoulder is the part of the human body consisting of several joints combined with muscles and tendons to enable a wide range of movements in your arm. Because the shoulder is made up of many different structures, it is vulnerable to many problems. One of which is Shoulder Impingement, a degenerative condition that involves the inflammation of the tendons of the rotator cuff as they pass through the passage beneath the acromion, causing weakness, pain, irritation, and lack of movement in the arm.

Shoulder Impingement is a condition that occurs when the rotator cuff of your shoulder rubs against the acromion (the top outer edge of your shoulder). The rotator cuff consists of a group of tendons and muscles responsible for the arm’s movement (rotation, lifting). It is located under the acromion and attaches the upper arm bone to the shoulder. Due to shoulder impingement, the tendons of the rotator cuff get pinched by the acromion, causing irritation and pain.

What Causes Shoulder Impingement?

Some of the causes of shoulder impingement are:

It may be caused if the tendons in the rotator cuff are swollen or torn due to repetitive activity or the overuse of the shoulder.
Bursa is a fluid-filled sac between the acromion and the tendon, which helps tendons and muscles to glide over your shoulder bone. Due to any shoulder injury or overuse of the shoulder, your bursa may get inflamed and irritated, causing pain in the movement of the shoulder.

It could be due to age-related bone spurs on your acromion if you were born with a non-flat acromion.

How to Fix a Shoulder Impingement?

Shoulder Impingement is treated to restore the function of your shoulder, as well as to reduce pain. Depending on your case’s severity, there are different methods for treating shoulder Impingement syndrome. The methods of treatment include:

The most effective treatment for shoulder impingement is physical therapy. Your physical therapist will tell you some stretching exercises that can help reduce the pain and improve the range of motion of your shoulder. In this way, your rotatory cuff will also function well, and you can do further exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles.
If the overuse of the shoulder causes the shoulder impingement syndrome, then resting will be an effective way to get rid of the pain. Avoid doing any work or exercise that can strain your shoulder. Instead, apply ice on your shoulder for fifteen to twenty minutes, once or twice a day, to reduce swelling and pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, should be taken to reduce pain and swelling. If the pain is more severe, then steroid injections may be given.

You might require surgery if the pain is not relieved by rest, ice, and medications. The surgery will be performed to widen the space around your rotatory cuff by removing part of your acromion. This procedure is carried out arthroscopically, meaning the surgery will be done by making minor cuts on your shoulder. More severe cases may require open surgery involving a more significant amount in front of your shoulder.

What is the Best Shoulder Brace for Shoulder Impingement?

A shoulder brace is highly recommended for people suffering from Shoulder Impingement syndrome. A shoulder brace limits the movement of the shoulder, aids stability, and reduces pain so that the area can heal quickly. Braces that are commonly used for Shoulder Impingement syndrome are support shoulder braces. They provide proper support and stability to the arm and drastically reduce discomfort, pain, and inflammation. In addition, some shoulder braces contain a Hot/Cold Ice pack, so they can deliver hot or cold therapy right where you need it so that you can stay on the go!

At WorldBrace, we specialize in developing custom-made shoulder braces/supports explicitly designed to meet your individual needs. Our products include Shoulder Support Brace, and Copper Shoulder Brace, among others. Let us help you achieve the comfort you desire and change your way of living through our 20 years of excellence in Braces’ production.

Absolute Best Shoulder Impingement Exercises (Self-Treatments)

faq

Can Shoulder Impingement Cause Neck Pain?

Yes, the shoulder impingement may also cause neck pain because the neck and shoulder share the same muscles.

How Long Does it Take to Rehab Shoulder Impingement?

Usually, three to six months is enough to recover completely from shoulder impingement. However, more severe cases take up to a year to heal completely.