Shoulder Impingement

Impingement in the shoulder is a pathology that occurs when a structure (inert or contractile) becomes trapped between the acromion and the humeral head).

2 main types: SUB ACROMIAL (supraspinatus tendon or subacromial bursa)

CORACO HUMERAL (long head of biceps or subscapularis tendon)

Tests to determine impingement: 'Empty Can' test, Kinetic medial rotation test (KMRT) to differentiate between impingement and instability.

Impingement can result from a number of factors but it's important to remember to not just concentrate on the area of pain the patient presents but to look at the big picture (i.e. kinetic chain) as the pain may be resulting from dysfunction or imbalance elsewhere. It could be a postural habit, a muscle imbalance, trauma or a combination of other pathologies that have led to the impingement syndrome.

REMEBER! at the initial assessment cast your net wide!