Who is impingement?
The upper most tendon of the rotator cuff, the supraspinatus tendon, passes beneath the bone on the top of the shoulder, called the acromion. In some people, the space between the undersurface of the acromion and the top of the humeral head is quite narrow. The rotator cuff tendon and the overlying bursa can be pinched when the arm is raised into a forward position. With repetitive impingement, the tendons and bursa can become inflamed and swollen and cause the painful situation known as “chronic impingement syndrome.” How does impingement syndrome relate to rotator cuff disease? When the rotator cuff tendon and it’s overlying bursa become inflamed and swollen with impingement syndrome, the tendon may begin to break down near it’s attachment on the humerus bone. With continued impingement, the tendon is progressively damaged, and finally, may tear completely away from the bone. Why do some people develop impingement and rotator cuff disease while others do not? There are many factors t
