| Your rotator cuff is actually a group of 4 muscles that | | | | irritated, leading to tendonitis or bursitis respectively. |
| perform the majority of your shoulder movements. | | | | This can start to become painful, and in turn starts a |
| These four muscles, (the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, | | | | vicious circle because as it becomes inflamed the |
| teres minor and subscapularis muscles) lift and rotate | | | | tendon takes up even more space, leading to further |
| your arm, as well as give your shoulder joint stability, | | | | rubbing, and so on. In addition to this, another vicious |
| holding the head of your humerus (the "ball" of your | | | | circle is created because as you stop using that arm |
| "ball and socket" shoulder joint) where it needs to stay | | | | due to pain, your rotator cuff muscles start to get |
| while you are moving your arm. | | | | weaker. As this happens, they stop supporting your |
| Shoulder impingement is one of the leading causes of | | | | shoulder as well, allowing that humeral head to elevate |
| shoulder pain, and it can lead to tendonitis and bursitis | | | | more as you lift your arm, which causes even more |
| and even to rotator cuff tears.Shoulder impingement is | | | | impingement on that tendon. As you can see this can |
| one of the leading causes of shoulder pain, and it can | | | | be a progressive process that just worsens over time. |
| lead to tendonitis and bursitis and even to rotator cuff | | | | This is why it is important for people of all ages and |
| tears. It is called impingement because when the | | | | fitness levels to keep some sort of shoulder |
| space is too small for your rotator cuff tendons to run | | | | strengthening in their weekly routine, as well as work |
| through, the bones can actually pinch on the tendon, | | | | on their posture. Having good posture, keeping your |
| causing impingement. This pinching most commonly | | | | shoulders back instead of letting them round forward, |
| happens when someone reaches out or overhead, | | | | can go a long way in preventing shoulder impingement. |
| because this is the position where this space is | | | | In addition to that, keeping your rotator cuff strong will |
| naturally smaller. There are many reasons that this | | | | allow the shoulder to be held in its optimal position |
| space could become even narrower, causing | | | | during reaching and overhead activities, which will also |
| "impingement," but most commonly it is due to either | | | | assist in preventing shoulder impingement. |
| your acromion being hooked or hypertrophied (larger), | | | | It is also important to see your doctor or physical |
| or having bone spurs on the bones, narrowing that | | | | therapist early on if you do start having shoulder pain, |
| space. Poor posture can also lead to increased | | | | and not just assume it will go away. As you can see, |
| impingement, because when your shoulders are | | | | letting things progress will only lead to further damage |
| forward and rounded they put more stress on these | | | | and a longer recovery. So take all of the preventative |
| tendons and close off that space even further. | | | | measures you can... strengthen the shoulder and |
| When that space is narrower, every time you lift or | | | | strengthen your postural muscles! And if you do have |
| raise your arm you can be pinching your rotator cuff | | | | pain, consult your doctor or physical therapist sooner |
| tendon (most commonly the supraspinatus tendon) and | | | | rather than later! |
| rubbing it on the bone. This may not hurt right away, | | | | Check out these basic exercises and intermediate |
| however over time with repeated pinching or rubbing, | | | | exercises to strengthen the shoulder and postural |
| the tendon or the bursae can become inflamed or | | | | muscles. |