Cures for Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder impingement occurs when the shoulder blade, or scapula, puts pressure on the rotator cuff, which links the muscles that cover the ball of the shoulder. It's as painful as it is common, but can be treated with surgical or nonsurgical treatment combined with rehabilitation.

Nonsurgical Treatment

• Doctors often try nonsurgical treatment first. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this includes rest, physical therapy and avoiding activities that require overhead arm motions, such as serving a tennis ball. Doctors may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine, anesthetic or cortisone to ease the pain.

  According to the AAOS, many patients improve gradually and return to normal function within several weeks or a few months.

Surgical Treatment

• When therapy and other methods don't work, doctors recommend surgery. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, most surgery includes removing the front part of the acromion, the bone that forms the top part of the shoulder. Surgery can be either open (traditional) or arthroscopic, in which a surgeon uses microscopic cameras and a TV screen to complete the operation (this allows for smaller incisions and shorter recovery time.)

Therapy

• Therapy follows surgery. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, therapy may include keeping the arm in a sling to allow preliminary healing, then removing it to begin exercising the newly repaired arm. Exercises differ from patient to patient, but in general they aim to build strength and range of motion. Therapy eliminates the pain of impingement and surgery, but it may take anywhere from two months to a year.