A. Kamkar et al., NONOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 17(5), 1993, pp. 212-224
Shoulder pain secondary to impingement of the rotator cuff tendons und
erneath the coracoacromial arch is a common problem seen in athletes w
ho perform repetitive overhead activities. Shoulder impingement has be
en classified into primary and secondary types. Several factors contri
bute to impingement, including rotator cuff weakness, posterior capsul
e tightness, and subacromial crowding. Recently, it has been proposed
that scapulothoracic muscle weakness could be a factor that contribute
s to impingement. Traditional rehabilitation protocols for shoulder im
pingement syndrome stress individualized rotator cuff strengthening. T
he authors propose that individualized scapulothoracic muscle strength
ening should be a part of any protocol for nonoperative treatment of s
econdary shoulder impingement syndrome.