Getting Rid of Shoulder Impingement - without Injections!

If you're anything like most of our clients.... you probably just cringed at the word "injections". And don't feel bad- we did too! A lot of the time, injections are the first thing offered to someone with shoulder pain. But we believe it should be reserved as a last resort! We believe that a less invasive approach that really resolves the root cause should be your first line of defence. 

DO I have shoulder impingement?

Now you might be thinking " I have shoulder pain but I don't know if it's "impingement".  If the words sounds foreign to you, don't worry. It's just a fancy diagnoses that means something is pinched in your shoulder. It could be muscle, nerve or something called a "bursa" ( think squishy fluid filled sac).

MOST of the clients that come into our clinic with shoulder pain have some form of impingement.

What causes shoulder impingement?

Most of the time shoulder impingement is caused by poor posture. There is a little arch on the top of your shoulder. When we sit at a desk for long hours or just slouch in general, the shoulder round forward and the spine curves.  This makes that arch smaller and all the structures underneath it have less room to move. They begin to rub and become irritated and inflamed. This is shoulder impingement. 

So how do I get rid of Shoulder Impingement without injections

We resolve the root cause of course! For most people this looks like loosening up the tight muscles in the front that are causing you to slouch, strengthening the muscles in the back so that they support you and hold your shoulder in a better position. However, everyone is different and you may have some additional factors affecting you such as scar tissue, previous injuries, other compensation patterns, etc. So, it's always best to speak with an expert first. Click the button below to request to Speak with one of our therapists about your pain and how we can help. 

Is there anything I can do from home?

Absolutely there is! We believe that the solution to someone's pain is a healthy mix of hands on treatment ( you clicked above to speak with a therapist, right?) and gentle exercises that aim to resolve the root cause.  Check out this link for some suggestions of exercises you can do while you wait for your phone call with one of our therapists.

Rooting for you,

Lindsay