Shoulder pain is up there as one of the most common conditions we see here at KHC. Whether you’re a tradie or an office worker, whether you’re a full time parent or a full time athlete, a gym goer or a chronic netflix binger or anything in between - chances are at some point or another you will experience some form of shoulder pain.
That’s because shoulder pain is often caused by the simple things; day to day activities in our homes or workplaces that involve - repetitive motions or overhead activities, which combined with poor posture can quickly lead to shoulder irritation and pain.
This month we are chatting about shoulder pain; what it is, how to avoid it and what to do about it if you’re already experiencing it.
Today we’re focusing on the most common form of shoulder pain: SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT - AKA Sub acromial impingement syndrome (SAIS), which accounts for 44-65% of all shoulder complaints.
What is SAIS & Why does it happen?
Shoulder Impingement occurs due to a decrease of space in the shoulder joint itself, ultimately leading to compression (a pinching) of the tendons and bursa that sit in this joint space. Overtime as these structures are compressed repetitively they become irritated and inflamed, beginning to degenerate and sometimes even tear. This is most commonly brought about by 3 particular factors:
Repetitive daily activities (particularly overhead movements)
Muscle activation imbalances
Poor posture
Over time, if left unchanged each of these aggravating factors, or a combination of all of them, inevitably will lead to SAIS.
Common Symptoms to look out for:
Pain when reaching behind your back
Pain when lifting your arm by your side between 60 to 120 degrees
Difficulty lying/sleeping on affected side due to pain
Muscle weakness when trying to lift objects
As condition progresses, pain may be present at rest and it may become difficult to even raise your arms
How can I avoid it?
The best way to avoid shoulder pain is first to identify any repetitive shoulder movements (particularly overhead movements) and aim to decrease or avoid them all together: EG whether that be at work (like using the hair dryer as a hairdresser) or whether it be for sport (like throwing as a cricketer) or around the house (like hanging the washing).
If you cannot decrease or remove the activity be sure to warm up/cool down before / after the activity.
Last but not least: Come in for a preventative treatment - let us assess you and your shoulder to give you some stretching and strengthening exercises to avoid shoulder pain altogether.
What can I do about it if I’ve got it?
If you’re unlucky enough to already be experiencing shoulder pain, unfortunately it can become an ongoing and recurring issue, especially if it’s related to a sport, job or hobby that involves repetitive movements; so, don’t wait! Osteopathy can help! here at KHC we would love to help relieve your pain, avoid common injuries and get you back to doing the activities you love pain-free - Book below for an appointment today:
For more information, check out these articles:
1. Umer, M. et al. 2012. Subacromial impingement syndrome. Orthopedic Reviews. 4 (2). e18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3395987/
2. Bennett, S. et al. 2017. The use of osteopathic manual therapy and rehabilitation for subacromial impingement syndrome: A case report. Explore. 13 (5). 339-343. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830717300149
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