Impingement

arm-exam

Impingement occurs when inflammation, bone spurs, or fluid buildup causes a rotator cuff tendon to be squeezed and rub against a bone.

Every time you raise your arm above your head, the upper tendon in the rotator cuff (supraspinatus tendon) and the bursa that lies on top of the tendon glide on the underside of the upper end of your shoulder blade (acromion).

The underside of the acromion may be rough and rub or scrape (abrade) the bursa and tendon.

Activities that require repeated overhead arm movements can result in painful inflammation of the bursa (bursitis) and/or the tendon (tendinitis).

Over time, the tendon may wear against the underside of the acromion.

Tiny tears may develop.

Then, the tendons in the rotator cuff can no longer balance the upward pull of the shoulder muscle (deltoid) on the head of the upper arm bone. This can lead to further damage to the rotator cuff tendon. The weaker the tendon becomes, the more likely it is to get partially or completely torn.

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Doctors

Listed below are Signature Medical Group physicians who diagnose and treat this condition.

J. Clinton Walker, MD

J. Clinton Walker

Overland Park, KS

  • Orthopedics
  • Hand and Wrist
  • Shoulder and Elbow

Kenneth (Buck) S. Smith, MD

Kenneth (Buck) S. Smith

St. Louis, MO

  • Orthopedics
  • Foot and Ankle
  • Sports Medicine
  • Trauma

Robert H. Sigmund, MD

Robert H. Sigmund

St. Louis, MO

  • Orthopedics
  • Hip and Knee
  • Joint Replacement
  • Sports Medicine

Thomas S. Samuelson, MD

Thomas S. Samuelson

Overland Park, KS

  • Orthopedics
  • Hip and Knee
  • Shoulder and Elbow
  • Sports Medicine

Aleksander C. Ferbet, DPM

Aleksander C. Ferbet

St. Louis, MO

  • Podiatry
  • Foot and Ankle

Robert P. Bruce, MD

Robert P. Bruce

Overland Park, KS

  • Orthopedics
  • Hip and Knee
  • Joint Replacement
  • Shoulder and Elbow
  • Sports Medicine

Christopher W. Palmer, DO

Christopher W. Palmer

St. Louis, MO

  • Orthopedics
  • Hip and Knee
  • Joint Replacement
  • Trauma
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Locations

Signature Orthopedics Chesterfield

Signature Orthopedics Chesterfield
121 St. Luke’s Center Drive
Building A, Suite 302
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Get directions
314-849-0311

Kansas City Bone & Joint Clinic Lee’s Summit

Kansas City Bone & Joint Clinic Lee’s Summit
3151 NE Carnegie Drive
Suite B
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Get directions
913-381-5225

Signature Orthopedics South County

Signature Orthopedics South County
12639 Old Tesson Road
Suites 100 and 115
St. Louis, MO 63128
Get directions
314-849-0311

Kansas City Bone & Joint Clinic

Kansas City Bone & Joint Clinic
10701 Nall Avenue
Suite 200
Overland Park, KS 66211
Get directions
913-381-5225

Signature Orthopedics Fenton

Signature Orthopedics Fenton
1011 Bowles Avenue
Suite 100
Fenton, MO 63026
Get directions
314-849-0311