Shoulder > Impingement Syndrome > Treatments

   NSAIDs, Physical therapy, Corticosteroid Injection

Home Recovery

If you have been diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome, your physician may prescribe over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like aspirin or ibuprofen. Occasionally, some patients are given injections of long-lasting anesthetics to ease pain. A corticosteroid injection can be effective in reducing pain, but care must be taken not to inject the tendon directly, as this can result in weakness and possible rupture of the tendon. Injections generally are given at least three months apart, and exercises involving resistance should be avoided for a week after injection. Physical therapy is also likely to be recommended, and if so, usually begins as soon as possible.

Exercises aimed at strengthening your rotator cuff muscles usually can start as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome. However, your physician may recommend that you rest for as long as one or two weeks, depending on the severity of your injury and your involvement in physical activities. Physical therapy to strengthen your rotator cuff muscles usually progresses through four phases. The time you spend in each phase depends on the severity of your injury and your body’s ability to heal.

   The first phase focuses on decreasing inflammation in the rotator cuff. Your therapist usually helps you move your arm and stretch your shoulder.

   When you feel comfortable moving your arm with your own strength, the second phase of rehabilitation works on restoring a full range of motion and strengthening the hands, wrist, and elbow.

   When muscles and tendons in the rotator cuff have healed, the third phase of rehab strengthens the rotator cuff muscles. You usually learn shoulder-strengthening exercises without weights and progressively add resistance as pain goes away.

   When the muscles in the injured rotator cuff are about as strong as the uninjured muscles, phase four of rehabilitation becomes more activity oriented. You usually perform sport specific exercises and coordination drills under the supervision of a therapist or coach.

The best way to prevent recurring impingement syndrome and associated shoulder injuries is to make the strengthening exercises you learned in rehabilitation part of your everyday routine. You should remember to stretch your shoulder and warm up before exercising. Sports that involve repeated overhead motion, like baseball and tennis, inevitably strain your shoulder. To prevent injury, you need to keep all the rotator cuff muscles toned and flexible with an exercise program, and you need to practice proper technique when doing these activities. You also may need to alter your work environment to avoid repeated overhead activities. Physicians generally recommend that you ice your shoulder after activities. Competitive athletes may need to use anti-inflammatory medication, like aspirin and ibuprofen, after sports activities that cause swelling in their shoulders. If you feel persistent pain in your shoulder during activities, you should cut back your activity level and return to your physician for a check-up.