Generally, with this diagnosis there are three potential paths of treatment.
1. Conventional physiotherapy management incorporating soft tissue mobilisation to the rotator cuff muscles, graduated loading in a very controlled manner, and sometimes the use of tape to offload the shoulder, is a key part of post surgery rehabilitation. The muscles around the scapula are particularly important in preventing pain from returning.
2. Radial Shockwave Therapy to boost the activity and control of the rotator cuff. Very often ‘the issue is in the tissues’, and it is essential to improve the competence of supraspinatus and infraspinatus, which makes up the posterior cuff.
3. If physiotherapy is unsuccessful then investigation may be required and it is often sensible at this point to have X-rays and MRI. This very much depends on the specialist’s opinion. Severe symptoms may benefit from a corticosteroid injection into the subacromial space. This really needs to be carried out by a specialist and often private health insurance will cover this with a referral letter from the physiotherapist.
If all else fails, then an operation called a subacromial decompression is required, where space is created to allow the tendons to move normally and reduce the inflammation caused by Subacromial Shoulder Impingement. Physiotherapy is often required post-surgically to aid in recovery, improve mobility, and strengthen the surrounding muscles to prevent further issues.
