Symptoms of Shoulder Impingement

• Pain when raising the arm

• Pain during overhead activities

• Pain at night and discomfort while sleeping on the affected shoulder

• Shoulder weakness and limited range of motion

Goals of Physiotherapy

• Reduce pain and inflammation

• Restore shoulder mobility and range of motion

• Strengthen rotator cuff and scapular muscles

• Enable safe performance of functional activities, such as overhead tasks

Physiotherapy Treatments

1. Pain Relief Techniques

• Ice Therapy: To reduce acute pain and inflammation

• Heat Therapy: To relax muscles and improve circulation

• TENS: For pain modulation and relief

2. Stretching and Range of Motion Exercises

• Pendulum Exercises: Gentle shoulder movement to reduce stiffness

• Posterior Capsule Stretch: To improve shoulder flexibility

• Cross-Body Stretch: To stretch the posterior shoulder and rotator cuff

3. Strengthening Exercises

After pain is controlled:

• Rotator Cuff Strengthening: Internal and external rotation exercises

• Scapular Stabilization: Strengthen shoulder blade and surrounding muscles

• TheraBand Exercises: Progressive resistance training

4. Manual Therapy

• Soft tissue and joint mobilization to reduce shoulder stiffness

5. Postural Correction and Functional Training

• Correcting rounded shoulder posture reduces impingement stress

• Training safe movement patterns for overhead and daily activities

Frequency and Duration

• Physiotherapy sessions 2–4 times per week

• Adherence to a home exercise program is essential for recovery and pain reduction

• 4–8 weeks are usually required to observe pain relief and functional improvement