How is Shoulder Impingement Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of shoulder impingement can usually be made with a careful history and physical exam. Patients with impingement most commonly complain of pain in the shoulder, which is worse with overhead activity and sometimes severe enough to cause awakening in the night. Manipulation of the shoulder in a specific way by your doctor will usually reproduce the symptoms and confirm the diagnosis. X-rays are also helpful in evaluating the presence of bone spurs and/or the narrowing of the subacromial space. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), a test that allows visualization of the rotator cuff, is usually not necessary in cases of shoulder impingement, but may be used to rule out more serious diagnoses.
