Shoulder impingement means your soft rotator cuff tendon is painfully pinched between two hard bones each time you raise your arm. This space can become crowded by abnormally shaped bones or lazy muscles that fail to keep the bones separated properly. Symptoms may include aching that becomes more intense when reaching. Nighttime pain often disrupts sleep. Long-standing impingement may lead to rotator cuff tears.

Impingement is the most common shoulder problem, especially in athletes who participate in overhead sports or jobs that involve overhead activities, such as swimming, baseball, painting, and carpentry. Any repetitive motion involving your shoulder may exacerbate your symptoms.

Shoulder manipulation and a shoulder-specific rehab program might help alleviate your symptoms. You should limit painful overhead activity and try not to sleep on your irritated side, especially with your arm stretched overhead. You may benefit by sleeping on your unaffected side with a pillow between your arm and trunk. If you work out at the gym, you might need to avoid overhead presses, lateral raises, and push-ups temporarily.