Shoulder impingement — that pinching ache when you lift your arm overhead — is one of the most common shoulder problems, especially for desk workers and overhead-pressers. The good news: it’s largely preventable. The guide: what impingement is, the prevention-through-strength-and-mobility approach and the technique-and-warning notes.

The Impingement Reality

Understanding shoulder impingement: the the-what-it-is (the impingement = pinching-ache lifting-the-arm-overhead from the shoulder-health chapter — the the-what; the the-pinching; the the-overhead-ache), the the-common-problem (the impingement being a-common shoulder-problem — the the-common; the the-widespread), the the-desk-and-overhead-risk (the desk-workers-and-overhead-pressers at-risk from the desk-shoulder-tension and overhead-press-shoulder chapters — the the-desk; the the-overhead; the the-at-risk), the the-posture-and-imbalance (the posture-and-muscle-imbalance contributing — the the-posture; the the-imbalance; the the-causes), the the-largely-preventable (the impingement being largely-preventable — the the-preventable; the the-good-news), and the reframe (the shoulder-impingement as a common-but-preventable problem addressable-with-strength-mobility-and-technique — the prevent-it; the the-keep-the-ache-away).

The Prevention-Through-Strength-and-Mobility Approach

Preventing impingement: the the-strengthen-the-rotator-cuff (the rotator-cuff-strengthening from the shoulder-health chapter — the the-cuff; the the-strengthen; the the-key), the the-scapular-strength-and-control (the scapular-strength-and-control — the the-scap; the the-shoulder-blade; the the-control), the the-upper-back-strength (the upper-back-strengthening (posture) from the desk-shoulder-tension chapter — the the-upper-back; the the-posture; the the-pull-work), the the-shoulder-mobility (the shoulder-mobility work from the mobility logic — the the-mobility; the the-range; the the-loosen), the the-thoracic-mobility (the thoracic-spine-mobility (affects-shoulders) from the mobility logic — the the-thoracic; the the-spine; the the-affects-shoulders), the the-posture-and-desk (the fix desk-posture from the desk-shoulder-tension chapter — the the-posture; the the-desk; the the-counter-the-hunch), the the-balance-push-and-pull (the balance-push-and-pull (avoid-imbalance) — the the-push-pull-balance; the the-avoid-imbalance), and the the-warm-up (the warm-up the-shoulders — the the-warm-up; the the-prep).

The Technique-and-Warning Notes

Technique and warning signs: the the-good-overhead-technique (the good overhead-press-technique from the overhead-press-shoulder chapter — the the-technique; the the-overhead-press; the the-form), the the-dont-overdo-overhead (the manage overhead-volume — the the-volume; the the-dont-overdo; the the-manage-it), the the-avoid-impinging-movements (the avoid-movements-that-pinch — the the-avoid-pinch; the the-modify), the the-pain-free-range (the work-pain-free — the the-pain-free; the the-dont-push-into-pain), the the-warning-signs (the persistent pinching/pain warranting attention — the the-warning; the the-persistent-pain; the the-heed-it), the the-see-a-pro-if-persistent (the persistent-pain to a-physio/doctor from the shoulder-health chapter — the the-professional; the the-physio; the the-if-persistent), the the-address-early (the address niggles-early — the the-early; the the-tap-early), and the frame (shoulder impingement prevention through the impingement-reality, the prevention-through-strength-and-mobility and technique-and-warning — the rotator-cuff, scapular, mobility and posture work plus good-technique that prevent-the-overhead-ache; the shoulders, protected). Shoulder impingement — that pinching ache lifting your arm overhead — is one of the most common shoulder problems, especially for desk workers and overhead-pressers, and it’s largely preventable. Prevent it with strength-and-mobility: strengthen the rotator cuff, scapula and upper back (posture), work shoulder-and-thoracic mobility, fix your desk posture, and balance push-and-pull to avoid imbalance. Use good overhead technique, manage your overhead volume, work pain-free, and see a physio for persistent pain: keep the overhead ache away.

Shoulder impingement — that pinching ache when you lift your arm overhead — is one of the most common shoulder problems, especially for desk workers and overhead-pressers, and it’s largely preventable. Prevent it with strength-and-mobility: strengthen the rotator cuff, scapula and upper back (for posture), work your shoulder-and-thoracic mobility, fix your desk posture, and balance push-and-pull to avoid imbalance. Use good overhead-press technique, manage your overhead volume, work pain-free, and address niggles early — seeing a physio for persistent pain. Keep the overhead ache away.