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.



 

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