What’s Causing Your Anterior Shoulder Pain?

What is Shoulder Impingement?

The most common cause of anterior shoulder pain is pinching or impingement of the biceps tendon or the rotator cuff, specifically, the supraspinatus muscle.  The tendons of these two muscles lie under the acromion, a bony protuberance of the scapula or shoulder blade.  When a tendon gets pinched under the acromion, inflammation and pain will follow. 

What Causes Shoulder Impingement?

Common causes of the tendons being pinched by the acromion include slouched posture, low trapezius weakness, working at a computer, prolonged positions with the arm and shoulder being held forward and falling onto the outstretched arm.  If the pain is ignored, the swollen tendon can become a chronic condition and can even lead to a rotator cuff tear or a biceps tendon tear. 

How do I Fix It?

It is important to get rid of the swelling in and around the tendons and to discover the cause of the impingement to correct it.   If trauma caused the impingement, inti inflammatory treatment is key to getting rid of the pain.  If your impingement is caused by poor posture or a muscle imbalance, those can be corrected.  Physical therapy is very effective at diagnosing and treating shoulder impingement.   

How Will Physical Therapy Help Me?

A physical therapist will perform an evaluation of your shoulder to determine which tendon or tendons are irritated and will look at your posture and the mobility, range of motion and strength of the surrounding tissues to determine where the imbalance is and give you an exercise program to address your deficits.  Your therapist will also give you suggestions on the options to address the inflammation. 

Click on the link below to get a copy of my free shoulder ebook. 

Call today to have your shoulder questions answered by a physical therapist or to schedule an appointment. 

303-900-2282.