Which description best characterizes internal subacromial impingement?

Study for the PT Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Exam. Prepare with multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam with in-depth insights!

Multiple Choice

Which description best characterizes internal subacromial impingement?

Explanation:
Internal impingement happens when the undersurface of the rotator cuff is pinched between the humeral head and the posterior-superior rim of the glenoid inside the shoulder joint, typically in the late cocking (abduction with maximal external rotation) phase of throwing. This intra-articular contact is characteristic of overhead athletes and explains posterior shoulder pain that worsens with late-cocking movements. This is different from external impingement, where the bony arch beneath the acromion compresses the cuff against the coracoacromial arch during arm elevation, often with a positive Neer sign. Nociplastic pain describes a different pain mechanism not tied to a mechanical impingement. So the description that best fits internal impingement is the pinching of the rotator cuff between the humeral head and the glenoid rim in the late cocking phase of throwing.

Internal impingement happens when the undersurface of the rotator cuff is pinched between the humeral head and the posterior-superior rim of the glenoid inside the shoulder joint, typically in the late cocking (abduction with maximal external rotation) phase of throwing. This intra-articular contact is characteristic of overhead athletes and explains posterior shoulder pain that worsens with late-cocking movements. This is different from external impingement, where the bony arch beneath the acromion compresses the cuff against the coracoacromial arch during arm elevation, often with a positive Neer sign. Nociplastic pain describes a different pain mechanism not tied to a mechanical impingement. So the description that best fits internal impingement is the pinching of the rotator cuff between the humeral head and the glenoid rim in the late cocking phase of throwing.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy