Shoulder Impingement

Also known as

  • Impingement syndrome
  • Shoulder bursitis
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis

Shoulder impingement is a very common condition. It occurs when there is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and the bursa around them.

Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles around your shoulder joint. They are very imporatant as these muscles play an essential role in moving your shoulder in all directions, especially when lifting your hand above your head and rotating your shoulder. They also have the important function of keeping your shoulder joint in place. Without them, the ball of your shoulder joint, would not sit or function properly in the socket of your shoulder joint.

A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between tendons, bones, and skin.  There are numerous bursae around the shoulder, but the most important one is called the 'subacromial bursae'. It's located above your shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscles, and protects them from rubbing on the bone above called the 'acromion'.

Impingement syndrome is usually a combination of  the tendons becoming inflammed (tendonitis) and the bursa becoming inflammed (bursitis).

shoulder impingement


15 October, 2011