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Howard J. Luks, MD

Howard J. Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Specialist

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Rotator Cuff

Impingement Syndrome [Video]: Can A Bone Spur Cause Shoulder Pain?

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Howard J. Luks, MD Updated Sep 17, 2021 Read time: < 1 min

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Impingement syndrome was a name coined many decades ago.  Back then we thought that impingement syndrome was the cause of shoulder pain and rotator cuff tears.  The basic concept was that a bone spur in the shoulder rubbed against the rotator cuff causing pain and eventually causing the rotator cuff to tear. Thousands of patients have had those bone spurs removed… and to this day many still do.  This video will discuss the Impingement Syndrome and what our current thoughts are.

Most of the recent science and literature over the past 15 years has proven that the bone spur is not the cause of rotator cuff tears or shoulder pain.  The cause of pain in most people is the rotator cuff itself or a degenerative process we call rotator cuff tendinosis. This recent publication [2017] shows that removing the bone spur did not result in any improvement of pain or function on a long-term basis. 

We hope you find this video on Impingement Syndrome useful … see the links below to read more on rotator cuff tendinosis- the most common cause of shoulder pain in adults.

Further reading:

What is rotator cuff tendinosis?

What is the cause of rotator cuff tears?

Can rotator cuff tendinosis be cured?

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Categories: Rotator Cuff, Surgery

Disclaimer:  this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Read the full disclaimer.
Dr. Howard J. Luks

Howard J. Luks, MD is a leading orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, and author of Longevity... Simplified.

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Further Reading:

rotator cuff return to work
Returning to work after rotator cuff surgery
Pain on top of the shoulder
Shoulder Stiffness After Rotator Cuff Surgery
subacromial decompression
Massive Rotator Cuff Tears : Treatment Options For a Complex Problem
partial rotator cuff tear
Partial Rotator Cuff Tears: Do I Need Surgery?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura

    Oct 8, 2017 at 12:34 am

    Three doctors later Iam told i need surgry, i got surgry. They said they could not find any tears. Now, I am told its a huge bone spur. My range of motion is awful, i cant lift weights or use my shoulder without serious pain. I am very fit, active, and i need clarity of my vondition. Please contact me.

    • Avatar photoHoward J. Luks, MD

      Oct 8, 2017 at 7:13 am

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Dr. Howard J. Luks

Howard J. Luks, MD is a leading orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, and author of Longevity... Simplified.

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