Painful Dysfunction Syndromes of the Shoulder: The Role of Short Depressors of the Humeral Head

Overview

Motor control of the shoulder girdle, joint centration and stability resulting in skillfull hand movements are ontogenetically recent, hence easily disturbed functions. Dysfunction of the shoulder joint frequently causes structural changes and vice versa. A primary structural lesion causes disturbed neuromuscular movement patterns at the shoulder. There are two main factors which stabilise the shoulder joint: active positioning of the shoulderblade, and the muscles of the rotator cuff which depress and thus centrate the joint, the key muscle being the subscapularis. For physiotherapy to be effective, we have to respect these principles when applying kinesiotherapy.

Key words:
the shoulder, glenohumeral centration, humeral head depressors, impingement