Condition
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
«Core answer summary» slot — content in preparation.
Understanding the condition
«Understanding the condition (definition, symptoms, epidemiology, stages, absolute surgical indications)» slot — content in preparation.
The SART view: why this happens
«The SART view (the underlying cause behind the presentation)» slot — content in preparation.
Surgery and SART: complementary, not competing
«How surgery and SART complement each other» slot — content in preparation.
Research evidence
These are the evidence candidates assigned to this topic. The citations to be used are finalised by the author when the page is published.
- EV-008★★★L3 · Retrospective cohort / case-control / cross-sectional
The thorax and posture sit upstream of shoulder pathology
Patients with subacromial impingement syndrome show restricted thoracic extension and a scapula positioned in greater anterior tilt, protraction and downward rotation (case–control study, 108 participants).
PMC9875974 · PMC9875974
Limitation — Bibliographic details still need to be verified.
- EV-075★★★L3 · Retrospective cohort / case-control / cross-sectional
Forward head posture alters the activation patterns of the shoulder and neck muscles
Electromyography confirmed that forward head posture produces overactivity of the upper trapezius and altered activation of the scapular stabilisers.
Weon JH (2010) · Influence of forward head posture
- EV-009★★★L3 · Retrospective cohort / case-control / cross-sectionalfoundational
Scapular dyskinesis is associated with a broad range of shoulder disorders
Abnormal scapular position and movement (scapular dyskinesis) is associated with impingement, rotator cuff disease, instability and adhesive capsulitis, and accompanies most shoulder injuries.
Ludewig PM; Kibler WB (2009) · Ludewig PM & Reinold(JOSPT 2009); Kibler WB(2012)
Limitation — Bibliographic details still need to be verified.
- EV-027★★L4 · Cadaveric / biomechanical model / basic experimentfoundational
The scapula is the foundation of shoulder function, and scapular dyskinesis accompanies shoulder pathology broadly
Established the concept of scapular dyskinesis, with the scapula as the stable base for humeral movement. Abnormal scapular position and rhythm accompany impingement, rotator cuff disease and instability, pointing to restoration of scapulo-thoracic alignment rather than local strengthening.
Kibler WB · The role of the scapula in athletic shoulder function
- EV-017★L5 · Expert opinion / classical theory / mechanistic hypothesisfoundational
The thorax is not a rigid cage but a stack of mobile rings, and when one ring twists the structures above and below are affected
The thorax is modelled as a stack of individual rings (rib segments); when a particular ring rotates or translates, the structures above it — shoulder and cervical spine — compensate.
Lee D (2015) · The Thoracic Ring Approach