Do I Have Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

Do you experience pain and tenderness in the front of your shoulder?

Do you experience pain when lying on the affected shoulder?

Do you have pain when you extend your arms above your head?

Do you experience pain that moves from the front of your shoulder to the side of your arm?

Do you experience pain when lifting or lowering your arm?

Do you experience shoulder and/or arm weakness and stiffness?

Do you have pain when reaching behind your back?

Does the pain affect your ability to sleep?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have shoulder impingement syndrome. Shoulder impingement syndrome happens when the rotator cuff repeatedly rubs between your humerus and top outer edge of your shoulder. The rubbing results in more swelling and further narrowing of the space. This leads to pain. Treatments include rest, ice, taking anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, cortisone injections and in severe cases surgery. Luckily, in your case, there seem to be no reasons to be worried.

Based on your answers, you are displaying one or more signs of shoulder impingement syndrome. Your rotator cuff is located in a small space between two bones in the shoulder. You use your rotator cuff to help raise your arm overhead and to rotate your arm away from and towards your body.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have shoulder impingement syndrome. This type of injury is most often seen in individuals who are involved in sports and other activities that require a lot of overhear rotational motion, such as baseball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, and painting or window washing. Treatment should be focused on reducing the pain and restoring shoulder function. Treatments include rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and physical therapy.