Impingement Syndrome: Case Study and SOAP Note
Impingement Syndrome Case Study and SOAP Note
Impingement Syndrome Case Study and SOAP Note
Case Scenario
Samantha, a 68 year old presents with right shoulder pain, (impingement syndrome).
Description of the Problem The shoulder is made up of three bones, several joints, along with several muscles and tendons. This combination of structures allow for great range of motion in your arm. In addition to the many different structures being beneficial, this also makes the shoulder susceptible to many different injuries or problems.
The three bones that make up the shoulder are the humerus, the clavicle, and the scapula. The arm is kept in its place in the shoulder socket by a part called the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is made of up muscles and tendons. The upper arm bone is attached to the shoulder blade by the rotator cuff. “The acromion is the bone on the top of the shoulder. Between the rotator cuff and the acromion is a lubricating sac called the bursa. The purpose of the bursa is to assist the tendons to glide freely when the arm is moved” (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011).
Shoulder impingement occurs when the arm is raised to shoulder height. When the arm is raised there is a narrowing of the space between the rotator cuff and the acromion. “During this narrowing, the acromion may impinge on the bursa and the tendon. This impingement can lead to pain and irritation” (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011).
“The area known as the impingement interval is the area between the superior aspect of the humeral head and the undersurface of the acromion. This normally narrow space is maximally narrowed when the arm is abducted. Any factor or condition that causes a further narrowing of that space can result in impingement” (Fongemie, Buss, Rolnick 1998). Impingement may result from weakness or loss of competency of the rotator cuff. Several extrinsic factors can lead to the impingement. Once the rotator cuff is weakened, that
Impingement Syndrome Case Study and SOAP Note
Case Scenario
Samantha, a 68 year old presents with right shoulder pain, (impingement syndrome).
Description of the Problem The shoulder is made up of three bones, several joints, along with several muscles and tendons. This combination of structures allow for great range of motion in your arm. In addition to the many different structures being beneficial, this also makes the shoulder susceptible to many different injuries or problems.
The three bones that make up the shoulder are the humerus, the clavicle, and the scapula. The arm is kept in its place in the shoulder socket by a part called the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is made of up muscles and tendons. The upper arm bone is attached to the shoulder blade by the rotator cuff. “The acromion is the bone on the top of the shoulder. Between the rotator cuff and the acromion is a lubricating sac called the bursa. The purpose of the bursa is to assist the tendons to glide freely when the arm is moved” (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011).
Shoulder impingement occurs when the arm is raised to shoulder height. When the arm is raised there is a narrowing of the space between the rotator cuff and the acromion. “During this narrowing, the acromion may impinge on the bursa and the tendon. This impingement can lead to pain and irritation” (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011).
“The area known as the impingement interval is the area between the superior aspect of the humeral head and the undersurface of the acromion. This normally narrow space is maximally narrowed when the arm is abducted. Any factor or condition that causes a further narrowing of that space can result in impingement” (Fongemie, Buss, Rolnick 1998). Impingement may result from weakness or loss of competency of the rotator cuff. Several extrinsic factors can lead to the impingement. Once the rotator cuff is weakened, that