How To Treat Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. It occurs when there is an impingement of the tendon, more specifically the rotator cuff tendon or the bursa in the shoulder. This is often caused by overhead activities or repeated activities. Sometimes it can be caused by arthritis in the shoulder or trauma.

Symptoms of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Typical symptoms of shoulder impingement syndrome are pain on the shoulder or arm which sometimes can radiate a little lower than the arm, difficulty reaching up or back and weakness on the shoulder muscles. This can affect daily activities such as dressing, reaching for things overhead, fixing the hair, lifting, etc. If left untreated, this can lead to a chronic inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon where pain can be consistent and severe. Chronic inflammation of the tendon can also lead to thinning of the tendon which can eventually lead to a tear.

Home Remedies for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

The most common treatment that people use for shoulder impingement syndrome is oral anti-inflammatory medications such as Aspirin, Naproxen or Ibuprofen. These can be helpful at times but as with any medications, there are side effects.

Physical therapy is a very effective treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome. Here are some home remedies you can try. Videos of these exercises can be found on our website RestorePlusNY.com under the Exercises tab.

1. Ice or Cold Packs are very helpful to relieve the inflammation and the pain. Apply this on the shoulder a few times in the day for 15-20 minutes each time. This is most important during the end of the day or activity to calm the inflammation down.
2. Pendulum Exercise – lean over and hold on to something stable for support such as a table or kitchen counter. Pretend your arm is like a dead weight and use your body to swing the arm. Avoid swinging your arm by itself. Always use your body to initiate the movement so that your arm can be relaxed. Do this in 3 directions: forward, sideways and circular from in to out. Do this 15-20 times.
3. Wand Exercise – use a wand, stick, cane or long umbrella to do this exercise. Hold the wand on one end with the affected arm and hold the wand on the other end with the non-affected arm. Use the non-affected arm to assist/push the affected arm into the following directions: forward, sideway (similar to doing a snow angel), backward, and rotation with your arms at the side and elbow bent to 90 degrees. Do these 1 set of 10 holding for 6 seconds each time 2-3x a day.
4. Finger Ladder or Wall Walk – use a finger ladder or the wall and walk you fingers up the wall to as high as you can. Hold it there for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. This can be done facing forward and facing sideways.
5. Towel stretch – with the affected arm reaching down and back, use a towel to assist the unaffected hand to stretch it further up the back. This movement is similar to drying your back after taking a shower/bath. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. This can help especially if you cannot reach back.

Treatment for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

If the above home remedies are not enough to relieve your shoulder pain, Don’t Worry! We can design a specialized program that has shown great results at relieving your pain quickly. This program can consist of using different modalities including the revolutionary Laser treatment, manual therapy techniques and exercises. Call Restore Plus TODAY for more information or to schedule an appointment! (800) 905-0513.

Restore Plus Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
33-10 Queens Blvd. Suite 301
Long Island City, NY 11101
(800) 905-0513
RestorePlusNY.com