Impingement Syndrome in the Shoulder

Impingement syndrome in the shoulder is a condition that makes lifting your arms over your head painful. Shoulder impingement occurs when the bones of your shoulder wear on the tendons and bursa, or fluid filled sacs, within your shoulder joint or rotator cuff. This condition typically occurs as a result of the aging process or due to repetitively lifting of the arms over the head. Swimmers, weightlifters, and tennis players are all prone to this condition.

Symptoms of shoulder impingement include acute pain within the shoulder when reaching over the head or behind the back as well as weakness in the shoulder. If left untreated, the tendons in your shoulder might actually tear in two, causing severe pain.