WHAT IS SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT?
Shoulder Pain and Impingement Syndrome – Shoulder impingement is the compression or pinching of the tendons of the muscle located on top of your scapula (supraspinatus) and bursa (pocket of fluid that reduces friction) between the humerus bone and the part of the scapula called acromion when raising the arm up. See diagram below:
People who do repetitive overhead activities are more at risk. Also yoga and sports practitioners who raise their arms overhead repetitively such as tennis players, swimmers and volleyball players.
There are two specific movements, which when coordinated with raising the arms up (abduction) reduce the risk of shoulder impingement. Conversely, restrictions in these movements increase the risk of impingement.
LATERAL ROTATION OF THE SHOULDER BLADE
As one can see on this animation the shoulder blade participates in and facilitates the movement of raising the arm by rotating laterally. The coordination of arm abduction and shoulder blade rotation is called scapulohumeral rhythm.
In order to be able to raise the arm all the way up, that is about 180 degrees, the shoulder blade needs to participate in about 1/3 of the movement, that is about 60 degrees.
LATERAL ROTATION OF THE UPPER ARM
Looking closely at the animation one can see that the humerus bone does not just move up, it also rotates laterally.
This lateral rotation allows the humeral tuberosity (bump located at the top of the humerus bone) to move away from your acromion and therefore reduces the risk of impingement.
Coordination of these movements during your daily activities, including in yoga and sport can help to protect your shoulders from impingement.
During a Rolfing session and in the presence of restrictions I assess not just the local joint, that is the joint where you feel the pain or limitation the most, but also any related joints which when unrestricted participate in and facilitate movement.
