Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy:

Chapter 12 & 13: Shoulder Girdle and Shoulder Joint

Shoulder Girdle common pathologies

  • Acromioclavicular (AC) separation - separation of the articulation of the acromion process and clavicle.

    • 1st degree sprain - AC ligament is strethched

    • 2nd degree sprain - AC ligament is ruptured and the coracoclavicular ligament is stretched

    • 3rd degree sprain - Both the AC and coracoclavicular ligaments are ruptured

  • Clavicular fractures - most often occur in the body of the clavicle as a result of impostioin of upward forces through the upper extremity, or imposition of medially directed forces on the acromial end of the clavical.

  • “winging” - movement of the medial border of the scapula away from the thoracic cage. when the serratus anterior is weak “winging” may occurs

The Shoulder Joint Common Pathologies

  • Shoulder subluxation - loss of joint congruity when excessive glide of the head of the humerus occurs within the glenoid fossa. causes: muscle weakness or paralysis of rotator cuff muscles, lack of integrity of the joint capsule and reinforcing ligaments, a large traction force transmitted through the joint.

  • Shoulder dislocation - total loss of joint congruity, when shoulder is forced into horizontal abduction and lateral rotation with a force greater than that causing subluxation (anteriorly)

  • Humeral neck fracture - often caused by a fall on an outstretched arm, usually results in an impacted fracture

  • Mid-humeral fractures - fractures of the shaft, often caused by a direct blow or twisting force, can result in a radial nerve injury

  • Pathological fractures - caused by loss of bone density because of disease, aging, benign tumors, or metastatic carcinoma

  • Impingement syndrome - compression of soft tissue between the acromial arch and the head of the humerus. can be a result of loss of scapulohumeral rhythm during abduction, weakness of the SITS or overuse.

  • Adhesive capsulitis - also called frozen shoulder, inflammation of the joint capsule, s/s: loss of shoulder ROM and pain, capsule becomes fibrotic overtime

  • Torn rotator cuff - tearing of the tendon(s) of one or more SITS muscle, can be acute or gradual degeneration.

  • Labral tear - tearing of the glenoid labrum, or separation of the labrum from the rim of the glenoid fossa, either from trauma or degeneration. s/s: limited ROM and pain

  • calcific tendonitis - calcification of the supraspinatus tendon as a result of accumulation of mineral deposits, can be painful or asymptomatic

  • Biceps tendonitis - tendonitis of the long head of the biceps, can be a result of a tearing of the transverse ligament, can precede rupture of the tendon

Michelle nuggets:

90 degrees for working shoulder

strengthening the strong side

isometric exercises