Shoulder impingement happens when the bones in your shoulder pinch your rotator cuff when you move your arm. This is a common cause of shoulder pain and usually happens when an issue like tendonitis or bursistis causes swelling in your shoulder joint.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of shoulder impingement is shoulder pain. It may get worse when you move your arm or lay on the affected side.
You may also have:
- Shoulder stiffness
- Swelling
- Redness
- A popping sound in your shoulder
Treatment
The most common treatments for shoulder impingement include:
- Rest, especially taking time off from any activities that may have caused your condition
- Ice
- Physical therapy
- Over-the-counter pain medications
- Corticosteroid pills or injections
If these treatments don't work, you may need surgery, which will create more space for your rotator cuff.
Risk Factors
While shoulder impingement is common, you're more likely to develop it if you do sports with a lot of repetitive shoulder motion (like tennis or baseball) or if you do physical work that puts pressure on your shoulders, like construction.