What is Rotator Cuff Impingement?

As the term impingement means “to encroach, dash, or collide” rotator cuff impingement signifies encroachment, dashing, or collision of the shoulder blade against the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a muscle tendon comprising of four muscles: the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis.

If you feel with your hands you can notice that there is a joint at the point where the arm and the shoulder meet. The main bone of the arm is known as the humerus. The head of the humerus is joined with the shoulder blade or the acromion bone of the shoulder with the rotator cuff covering the head of the humerus bone…

There is a narrow gap between the rotator cuff and the acromion bone. Rotator cuff impingement may happen when the acromion bone rubs or impinges on the rotator cuff.

When the rotator cuff impingement happens it leads to a tear of the rotator cuff and the condition is named as the rotator cuff syndrome. The typical signs of rotator cuff impingement are pain while lifting the arm or moving the shoulder, pain in the shoulder while sleeping on the affected side, and pain while lifting objects.

Sports persons and middle aged are more prone to this condition. People engaged in vocation that involves the frequent use of the shoulders and lifting of the arms overhead also may cause rotator cuff impingement.

The treatment for rotator cuff impingement involves both surgical and non-surgical procedures. For minor cases ice-packs and sprays to give relief from pain are applied. Adequate rest and taking anti inflammatory injections or pills take care of the problem in the majority of the cases.

When non-surgical treatment doesn’t help it is suspected to be a severe case. Severe conditions of rotator cuff impingement are diagnosed with the help of MRI. Surgery is performed to correct the condition.

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