Shoulder pain and injury is one of the more complex injuries to rehabilitate. Although most people have experienced shoulder pain such as in a rotator cuff injury, and will often offer each other advice; each individual will have a different clinical picture and therefore, it is important to consult with a Physiotherapist to discuss your unique history. When a Physiotherapist performs a shoulder pain assessment there are a number of components to consider in treating, including the individual’s unique activities, responsibilities, habits, hobbies and occupation.
The shoulder girdle consists of the following joints:
- Scapulothoracic interface – the shoulder blade is somewhat free floating on the thorax or rib cage. It is held in place primarily by the scapular muscles but also by its attachment to the clavicle or collar bone.
- Acromioclavicular joint – which is the joint that joins the acromion (on the tip of the shoulder blade) to the clavicle bone (collar bone).
- Sternoclavicular joint – which is the joint that joins the sternum to the clavicle.
- Glenohumeral joint – which is the joint that joins the arm bone to the shoulder blade.
Each joint has associated capsule, cartilage, muscles, ligaments and neurological inputs to maintain the appropriate stability for the normal function of the shoulder blade
The shoulder blade and, separately, the shoulder joint itself has three planes of motion available to them. In rehabilitation it is important for the Physiotherapist to stabilise the shoulder blade movement and position to ensure optimal joint position for the arm bone and then further ensure that the arm bone is centred and compressed into the glenohumeral joint.
Check out this video to explain a little bit about shoulder blade mechanics and the starting point of any rehab program for the shoulder.
If you had time to watch those videos, I would like to reiterate the importance of a Physiotherapy assessment to help you along with your shoulder rehabilitation and prevention of further injury. This video showed an example of one aspect of a complex shoulder blade mechanic on one individual. Thoracic mobility and the position of the arm bone in the capsule, the range of motion of the capsule itself, and the neurological input to the joint are only a few of the other aspects a Physiotherapist considers in fully rehabilitating shoulder pain and injury.
East Gwillimbury Physiotherapy is here to provide Physiotherapy and rehabilitation services to East Gwillimbury, Newmarket, Bradford, Aurora and the greater York/Simcoe Region.
