Medical conditions

This is a condition that affects the shoulder, in which there is a reduction in the normal space between the head of the humerus and the acromion (a structure of the scapula), often caused by muscular imbalances. This creates a mechanical impingement, mainly affecting the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle and the subacromial bursa, which are located between the head of the humerus and the antero-inferior surface of the acromion, producing inflammation and pain. This is therefore the cause of most rotator cuff tendinitis and subacromial bursitis.

Pain is usually felt in the antero-lateral region of the arm when the upper limb is elevated above 90º and during rotational movements, and may radiate to the elbow and sometimes to the hand. It is also common to experience muscular weakness, arm fatigue, and difficulty sleeping on the affected side. Several factors may predispose to this clinical condition, such as postural alterations, particularly forward shoulder posture, errors in sports practice, muscular imbalances caused by spinal problems, repetitive upper limb movements causing overload, poor posture while working at a computer, morphological alterations of anatomical structures, among others.

The evolution of the condition determines different types of approaches and prognoses, depending on each situation. Treatment should be based on understanding the triggering factors in order to correct them and work towards muscular rebalancing that allows proper centering of the humeral head during movement, thereby eliminating the impingement.