Posterosuperior and anterosuperior impingement of the shoulder in overhead athletes—evolving concepts

During throwing motion the athlete puts enormous stress on both the dynamic and the static stabilisers of the shoulder. Repetitive forces cause adaptive soft tissue and bone changes that initially improve performance but ultimately may lead to shoulder pathologies. Although a broad range of theories have been suggested for the pathophysiology of internal impingement, the reasons are obviously multifactorial. This review aims to critically analyse the current literature and to summarise clinically important information. The cardinal lesions of internal impingement, articular-sided rotator cuff tears and posterosuperior labral lesions, have been shown to occur in association with a number of other findings, most importantly glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and SICK scapula syndrome, but also with posterior humeral head lesions, posterior glenoid bony injury and, rarely, with Bankart and inferior glenohumeral ligament lesions. Extensive biomechanical and clinical research is necessary before a complete understanding and reconciliation of the varying theories of the pathomechanisms of injury can be developed.