You Need To Consider Doing This If Your Shoulder Impingement Is Not Improving With Exercise

Shoulder impingement can feel like a constant, nagging barrier that limits your range of motion and causes discomfort with every movement. Whether it’s triggered by repetitive overhead motions, poor posture, or injury, shoulder impingement can disrupt your daily life and prevent you from participating in activities you enjoy, from simple tasks like reaching for an object to more complex ones like lifting or exercising.

The emotional toll of shoulder impingement is just as intense as the physical pain. The frustration of not being able to move freely, coupled with the anxiety about the pain worsening or affecting other parts of your body, can leave you feeling stuck, defeated, and overwhelmed. If exercise hasn’t provided lasting relief from your shoulder impingement, it may be time to explore other treatment options that can target the root cause and offer true, long-term relief.

Exercise: A Common Approach to Treating Shoulder Impingement

Exercise is often recommended for individuals suffering from shoulder impingement because it can help strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint, improve flexibility, and enhance joint stability. Specific exercises are designed to target the rotator cuff muscles and the muscles that support the shoulder blade, which can help reduce impingement and restore movement.

However, while exercise is beneficial for improving strength and flexibility, it may not always provide complete or immediate relief, especially if the impingement is severe or caused by structural issues, such as tendonitis, bursitis, or bone spurs. For some individuals, exercise alone might not address the root cause, and the discomfort may persist or return, leaving you uncertain about how to move forward.

Why Getting a Clear Diagnosis Is Crucial

Shoulder impingement can result from various underlying causes. Here are five common causes of shoulder impingement:

1. Rotator Cuff Tendonitis – Inflammation of the tendons in the rotator cuff can cause pain and restrict movement in the shoulder.
2. Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions the shoulder, can lead to pain and swelling.
3. Bone Spurs – Abnormal bone growth in the shoulder can lead to impingement by narrowing the space where the tendons and bursa are located.
4. Poor Posture – Slouching or improper alignment can increase the stress on the shoulder, leading to impingement.
5. Overhead Movements – Repetitive overhead activities, like throwing or lifting, can contribute to the development of shoulder impingement.

In addition to these common causes, there are two less common but potentially serious causes of shoulder impingement:

1. Labral Tears – A tear in the cartilage of the shoulder joint can cause pain and instability, often accompanied by impingement symptoms.
2. Frozen Shoulder – Scar tissue buildup and stiffness in the shoulder joint can contribute to impingement, leading to limited mobility and pain.

The Need for Imaging to Get a Precise Diagnosis

It’s important to understand that shoulder impingement cannot always be fully diagnosed based on symptoms alone. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasounds are necessary to assess the health of the rotator cuff, bursa, bones, and surrounding tissues. These tools provide healthcare providers with a clearer view of the problem, allowing them to create a more effective and targeted treatment plan.

The Pain Relief Clinic: Your Partner in Finding a Clear Diagnosis

At The Pain Relief Clinic, we understand how shoulder impingement can limit your mobility and disrupt your life. With over a decade of experience, we specialize in offering non-invasive diagnostic services to uncover the root cause of your pain. If exercise hasn’t provided lasting relief, we can arrange for affordable scans, typically within one working day.

Medisave can often be used to help cover the cost of these scans, making them more accessible for you.

We also assist with insurance claims, including accident insurance, travel insurance, and company insurance, ensuring that you can access the care you need without added financial strain.

Once we have a clear diagnosis, we can provide targeted treatments, solutions, and non-invasive technology to help alleviate your shoulder impingement and restore your mobility.

Ready to take control of your shoulder impingement? Send us a message today to arrange an appointment and take the first step toward lasting relief from shoulder impingement.