Do you have subacromial pain syndrome?

Subacromial pain syndrome is usually non-traumatic, one sided shoulder problems which cause pain, localised around the acromion (bony process of the shoulder blade). This painful condition makes up over two thirds of the shoulder presentations at Acland Street Physiotherapy. Patients often report the pain to be worse with lifting of the arm. From an anatomical point of view, pain associated with this syndrome suggests that there is a lesion or injury associated with one or more structures within the subacromial space. 

Common conditions associated with subacromial structures include:

• Subacromial bursitis
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendinitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Biceps tendinopathy or tendinitis
• Biceps or rotator cuff tendon calcification 
• Rotator cuff tendon degeneration

These clinical conditions often respond very well to physiotherapy treatment and modified rest. Physiotherapy treatment may involve manual therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, dry needling and rotator cuff strengthening, shoulder stretching and stabilisation exercises.