Hip impingement lessons from SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT?

Shoulder impingement & Hip Impingement share MANY similarities BUT are often treated with a different approach and mindset.

Why this occurs is partly due to what I’m calling “fear of the unknown”. What we see is that just because something is a (relatively) newer diagnosis it is feared and treated like a mysterious problem that can only be truly treated with surgery.

I happen to disagree…and here is why!

Shoulder impingement occurs when you raise your arm to shoulder height, the space between the acromion and rotator cuff narrows. The acromion can rub against (or “impinge” on) the tendon and the bursa, causing irritation and pain.

Non-surgical approaches to fixing shoulder impingement will initially focus on restoring normal motion to your shoulder. Stretching exercises to improve range of motion are very helpful. Freeing up the pectoralis muscles (pec major and minor), the anterior deltoid and improving thoracic extension capability all go a long way to improve the pain and irritation that can occur with shoulder impingement.

Once your pain is improving, you can start on a strengthening program for the rotator cuff muscles.

Similarly, in hip impingement there are muscles that need softening up (with tissue work), need stretching, and movement and posture need to be retrained in a very similar way as shoulder impingement.

SO WHY IS SURGERY STILL RECOMMENDED SO OFTEN?

Part of the problem is our collective mindset as a society (quick fixes!) and the second part is the application (the devil in the details.)

TO BE MORE CLEAR – your success depends on the specific way in which you are performing the exercises (duration, frequency, mindfullness, choosing the appropriate tools, etc) and the lifestyle modification that goes along with your recovery program.

It has to be a whole revamp of the way you are living your life.

Check out the video for more, and check out more videos on the channel for BOTH hip and shoulder exercises to help you!