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Biomechanics of
Shoulder Joint

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 Table Contents
 Definition
 Introduction
 Biomechanics of Shoulder
 About Shoulder Joint Mechanics
 Conclusion

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 Definition

The shoulder area

is infamously
known to be one
of the most
complex regions
of the body to
evaluate and
rehabilitate.
3
 Introduction

• Due to the multiple joints involved during

shoulder movement, it is prudent to refer to
the area of the shoulder complex.
• To effectively rehabilitate a shoulder injury
in clinical practice, it is important to have a
functional knowledge of the underlying
biomechanics of the shoulder complex.

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5
 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Glenohumeral (GH) Joint
--- Arthrokinematics
• Spin (pure flexion and extension)
• Inferior glide (Abduction)
• Superior glide (Adduction)
• Posterior glide (Medial rotation)
• Anterior glide (Lateral rotation

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 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Glenohumeral (GH) Joint
• The natural arthrokinematics of the GH joint of
the shoulder complex during an open-chain
movement supports various directional glides of
the humeral head within the glenoid fossa.
• Del Maso and colleagues have estimated that a
maximum of 7.5 mm of upward translation of
the humeral head may occur during range of
motion movements.

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 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Glenohumeral (GH) Joint
• The success of a coordinated movement of the
humeral head with normalized arthrokinematics,
avoiding an impingement situation, requires the
harmonious co-contraction of the RC tendons.
• Abnormal glenohumeral translations have been
linked to pathological shoulders and it has been
suggested to be a contributing factor for
shoulder pain and discomfort, and may also lead
to the damage of encompassing structures.
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 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint
• The AC joint is a diarthrodial and synovial
joint. It allows for axial rotations and
antero-posterior glides.
• Because there are not direct attachements
of muscles to the joint, all movements are
passive and initiated by movements at
other joints (such as the ST joint).

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 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Osteokinematics
• Flexion / extension
• Abduction / adduction
• Medial / lateral rotation
Arthrokinematics
• Posterior / anterior spin
• Inferior / superior spin
• Anterior / posterior glide

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10
 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Scapulothoracic (ST) Joint
Scapulothoracic complex movements:
• Elevation and protraction = anterior elevation
• Elevation and retraction = posterior elevation
• Depression and protraction = anterior
depression
• Depression and retraction = posterior
depression

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 Biomechanics of Shoulder
Scapulothoracic (ST) Joint
• The movement of the scapula along the thoracic
cage also directly influences the biomechanics of
the shoulder complex as a whole, and can
moreover predispose the development of
impingement syndrome.
• The healthy movement of the scapula along the
thorax during arm elevation includes protraction,
posterior tilting, and lateral rotation, depending
on the plane of movement.
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 About Shoulder Joint Biomechanics
The pathological kinematics of the ST joint
include, but are not limited to:

• Increased medial rotation

• Decreased superior rotation, and
• Decreased posterior tilting

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About Shoulder Joint Biomechanics
These movement alterations are believed to
increase the proximity of the rotator cuff
tendons to the coracoacromial arch or glenoid
rim,however, there are still points of
contention as to how the movement pattern
deviations directly contribute to the reduction
of the subacromial space.

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 About Shoulder Joint Biomechanics
• For the sake of clarification, the current
literature differentiates between an internal
impingement and an external impingement.
• An impingement that involves a decreased
space towards the coracoacromial arch is
said to be an external impingement,
whereas an internal impingement involves
the glenoid rim,[18] and can be associated
with a GH instability
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 About Shoulder Joint Biomechanics
• Regardless of the classification, the
dysfunctional shoulder mechanisms can
further the progression of rotator cuff disease
and must therefore be understood as a
neuromuscular impairment.
• The neuromuscular control of the scapula
relies on the balanced team-work between the
global movers and the fine-tuning stabilizing
muscles of the shoulder complex
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 Conclusion

 The biomechanics of the shoulder are highly

complex. First, it is composed of four joints
(glenohumeral, acromioclavicular,
scapulothoracic, and sternoclavicular).
 The glenohumeral joint has six degrees of
freedom and is the most mobile joint in the
human body, allowing the hand to reach a wide
range of positions.

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