Shoulder Impingement
Summary
In most areas of the body bone is surrounded by muscles and tendons, however, in the shoulder the muscles and tendons are surrounded by bone. The largest group of muscles in the shoulder region are the rotator cuff muscles, a group of muscles and tendons that are used to lift the arm overhead. The rotator cuff muscles are in between the upper arm bone (humorous) and the top of the shoulder (the acromion). The unique placement of these muscles and tendons is what can contribute to a shoulder impingement.
Cause
Shoulder impingement can be caused by repetitive movements, overhead lifting, sports such as CrossFit, swimming, baseball, football, and tennis. Poor posture can also be a factor in shoulder impingement. The impingement occurs when the rotator cuff tendons and ligaments under the acromion become pinched or compressed.
Effects
When the rotator cuff muscles are injured, they can swell and because they are surrounded by bone, puts pressure on the area immediately. When the blood flow is reduced from the swelling (inflammation), the pain can feel somewhat achy. The pain is made worse by reaching overhead, throwing motions, and sleeping on the affected side.
Treatment
Structural Physiotherapy: Manual corrective techniques are performed to focus on balancing the muscle fascia systems of the body to improve range of motion, posture, and support pain free movement.
Postural Alignment Therapy: designed specifically for your body, re-patterning exercises are a great way to promote proper body position and connect the brain to muscle pathway letting the muscles and fascia relearn correct posture and movement.
Mobility Therapy: at Structure we have a great selection of self care mobility tools used to balance join mechanics, promote proper gliding between muscles and connective tissue, and re-educate neuromuscular pathways that can limit range of motion of the body.
Kinetic Taping: special kinesiology tape is used to decrease pain, decompress tissue, and provide support while allowing for full range of motion.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation: IASTM is a great way for the therapist to interact with connective tissues and the nerve roots that innervate them. Using a stainless-steel tool with a treatment edge to enhance specific desired results from the tissues the tool is being applied to. IASTM is used to help with pain mitigation, promotion of tissue glide, regulation of nervous tissue, and fluid capture.
Rockpods (cupping): Cupping has been around for a long time and has been used to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation, and well-being. At Structura we use silicone pods as a way to decompress through tissues and improve neurosensory effects (I.e body awareness, improved tactile acuity, perception and control).
Rockfloss: compression band therapy is a manual technique that we use to help improve range of motion, fluid regulation in the body, pain mitigation, and improve recovery.
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