Many athletes see me because they want to avoid surgery. Often, these athletes have impingement syndromes that cause pain and immobility in the shoulders or hips.
Let’s talk through the symptoms and causes of impingement. Then, I’ll address the question: Can surgery be avoided?
Shoulder symptoms:
Pain when you raise your arm to or beyond shoulder height.
Clicking or popping when you rotate the shoulder.
Imaging shows calcium deposits where bone meets tendon.
Hip symptoms:
Clicking, popping, and pain in the joint.
Limited range of motion.
Imaging shows calcium deposits where bone meets tendon.
What’s going on?
Think of your knee or hip joint like a window shade. If you pull one string and not the other, your shade will be lopsided. If the handle you rotate to open the window gets caught in the blinds, the shade won’t move well, even if you pull both strings.
When you overuse a shoulder or hip joint, your muscles (the strings) stop pulling the tendon (the shade) in a balanced way. The tendon can rub against bone, which responds by building up calcium. Like the stuck window handle, that calcium deposit impedes movement.
So...surgery?
If calcium is built up on the bone, you most likely need surgery. Non-invasive procedures can reduce your pain, but they won’t solve the root problem.
If there’s no calcium build up, try physical therapy, soft tissue mobilization, chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture and/or dry needling before undergoing surgery.
Questions? On the cusp? Get in touch.
Dr. Jake Shores
Chiropractic Neurologist
Park City, Utah
