Exercise and Impingements

One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is impingement syndrome. This is when various tendons in the shoulder begin to rub against the shoulder blade, causing inflammation, tenderness, and difficulty of motion. More simply, this condition is referred to as swimmer’s shoulder, due to the repeated shoulder motions commonly used in swimming. In addition to swimmers, activities and tasks that require overhead motions can be a leading cause. This can include many different athletes, as well as manual laborers. While improper exercise and physical activity can be the cause of a shoulder impingement, when done correctly, they can help treat the shoulder from said conditions.

Physical therapists can administer treatments for a variety of conditions. Shoulder impingements are no exception to this. To manage the pain of a shoulder impingement, physical therapists can prevent the patient from painful movements, or recommend temperature therapy for the affected area. To help regain full functionality of the shoulder, a physical therapist can give the patient some exercises to help regain strength, and range of motion, as well as safer ways to use the joint to prevent further injury. Depending on each patient’s individual situation, different techniques will be recommended. In addition to helping the patient recover from a shoulder impingement, physical therapists can help prevent the injury. This may include strengthening the shoulder area, properly stretching before physical activity, and avoiding movements that commonly cause shoulder impingements. By going to physical therapy, one can recover from a shoulder impingement faster, and come back stronger than before.

At Park Physical Therapy, our goal is to provide patients with great care for all of their physical therapy needs. We diagnose and treat a very wide variety of conditions, and take pride in seeing our patients feel happier and healthier. To learn more or schedule an appointment with us, take a look at our website.