Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:
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The joints of the shoulder girdle and shoulder form the shoulder joint complex. This complex consists of the humerus, scapula, clavicle, sternum, as well as the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, and glenohumeral joints. Most movements of the arm at the glenohumeral joint (shoulder) requires a coordinated movement with the shoulder girdle (scapula and clavicle with associated joints), “moving as a unit”. This coupling of shoulder girdle movement with shoulder joint movement is called scapulohumeral rhythm.
Specifically, the shoulder girdle consists of the manubrium, scapula, and clavicle, as well as the sternoclavicular (SC) and the acromioclavicular (AC) joints. The scapulothoracic articulation (STA) is not a true joint but is frequently used to simplify movement analysis of the shoulder girdle.
Arthrokinematic Motion at the Sternoclavicular Joint | Sternoclavicular Joint Range of Motion |
During scapular protraction, (transverse plane movement) the moving clavicle’s concave surface rolls anteriorly as well as glides/slides anteriorly, and during retraction the moving clavicle’s concave surface rolls posteriorly as well as glides/slides posteriorly (concave-convex). |
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Acromioclavicular Joint (AC) (arthrodial - triaxial)
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| Figure 2 Range of Motion: 20-30 degrees total gliding and rotational movement accompanying other shoulder girdle and shoulder joint movements. Note: The AC joint allows for independent motion between the scapula and clavicle. If not, the scapula would have to follow the motion of the clavicle degree for degree. Therefore, fine tune adjustments of the scapula at the AC joint are necessary to maintain the proper position of the scapula relative to the rib cage. |
Scapulothoracic Articulation |
The scapulothoratic articulation refers to the movement that occurs between the scapula moving on the ribcage. Movement of the scapula cannot occur without movement of the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints. Again, this is not a true joint but often used to simplify movement analysis of the shoulder girdle.
Range of Motion: Abduction-Adduction: 25° Upward-Downward Rotation: 60° Elevation-Depression: 55° | Figure 3 |
Movements of the Shoulder Girdle (Scapulothoracic Articulation) | |
Protraction (abduction) – lateral movement of scapula away from the spine.Retraction (adduction) – medial movement of scapula toward the spine.Elevation – upward movement of the scapula.Depression – downward movement of the scapula.Upward rotation – acromion process moves superomedial & inferior angle moves superolateral away from the spine.Downward rotation – returning acromion process to its normal position with inferior angle moving inferomedial toward the spine. Note: The acromion process of the scapula serves as the reference point when describing scapular movement. | Figure 5 |
Consequential Movements of Extreme End of Range Scapular Motion |
Lateral tilt – consequential movement during extreme scapular abduction in which the scapula rotates around its vertical axis, resulting in posterior movement of medial scapular border & anterior movement of the lateral scapular border. | Medial tilt – return from lateral tilt, consequential movement during extreme scapular adduction in which the scapula rotates around its vertical axis, resulting in anterior movement of medial scapular border & posterior movement of the lateral scapular border. |
Anterior tilt – consequential movement during shoulder joint hyperextension in which the scapula rotates around its frontal axis, resulting in anteroinferior movement of the superior scapular border & posterosuperior movement of the inferior angle. | Posterior tilt - consequential movement during extreme shoulder joint flexion in which the scapula rotates around its frontal axis, resulting in posteroinferior movement of the superior scapular border & anterosuperior movement of the inferior angle. |
Important Principle: Because of “tonus” a muscle will always exert a pulling force on the bone (or joint) it attaches to or acts upon. As such, if a muscle loses nerve innervation or partial nerve innervation or becomes weak from disuse, then its antagonistic muscle or muscle group will tend to pull the involved segment toward itself, resulting in a notable deformity or altered pattern of movement. An “acquired” musculoskeletal deviation or deformity may be the result of injury, disease, or simply the loss of balance in tone that should exist between agonist-antagonistic muscles. This is often the result of a deviation from good and proper posture. See below the changes that occur in the different stages of development of acquired musculoskeletal deformities. |
Figure 6
Stages of Development of Acquired Musculoskeletal Deformities
When evaluating a muscle for its strength and range of motion, and to prescribe an exercise program for improvement, the application of some basic principles help the evaluator to effectively apply forces to control movement of the person/limb being evaluated and to better isolate a desired muscle for a better analysis of its functionality. This becomes essential when seeking to appropriately apply forces to strengthen (or stretch) the target musculature.
Question: How would you apply this principle to the hamstring muscle group, triceps brachii muscle, and
pectoralis major muscle?
Hamstrings? | Triceps Brachii? | Pectoralis Major? |
Note: On the following pages, skeleton illustrations are provided so students may draw on the associated muscles to help them in their learning of the muscle’s origin, insertion and muscle line of pull.
Muscles of the Shoulder Girdle - Anterior | |
Pectoralis MinorOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | Figure 7Figure 8 |
Serratus AnteriorOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
SubclaviusOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: |
Muscles of the Shoulder Girdle - Posterior | |
Levator ScapulaeOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
RhomboidsOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Trapezius (upper)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Trapezius (middle) Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Trapezius (lower)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Suboccipitals (Not shoulder girdle muscles)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve Innervation: |
Force Couples: When 2 or more muscles pull in different directions to accomplish the same motion there is a summative effect, if not greater, in the force production contributing to the similar movement. Consider the combined pull of these three muscles in producing scapular upward rotation. Describe the pull direction for each muscle using a single word.
| Figure 12 |
Kyphosis & Upper Crossed Syndrome |
Kyphosis is defined as an excessive posterior curvature (rounding) of the thoracic spine associated with thoracic extensor muscle weakness, usually accompanied with a forward head and rounded shoulders. Upper Crossed Syndrome describes a specific muscle imbalance pattern, with some components similar to kyphosis, and is defined as tightness of the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and pectoralis major, and weakness of the rhomboids, serratus anterior, middle and lower trapezius, and the deep neck flexors, especially the scalene muscles.
Forward Head & Rounded Shoulders | Upper Crossed Syndrome |
Figure 13 | Figure 14 |
Therapeutic Interventions for Upper Crossed Syndrome | |
In the spaces below identify the muscles that are “weak” and those that are “tight” with respect to Kyphosis and Upper Crossed Syndrome and then identify therapeutic interventions to help correct the problem. | |
Weak Muscles to be “Strengthened” | Tight Muscles to be “Stretched” |
Shoulder (Glenohumeral) Joint (enarthrodial - triaxial)Closed-Packed Position: Shoulder abducted 90º, and external rotated 90ºOpen-Packed Position: Shoulder abducted 55º, and horizontally adducted 30 º |
Shoulder Joint Movements & Average Range of Motion Values | |
Flexion – movement of humerus anteriorly from any point in the sagittal plane. (120° or 180° w/ shoulder girdle) Extension – movement of the humerus posteriorly from any point in sagittal plane. (60°)Abduction – upward lateral movement of humerus in the frontal plane away from body. (120° or 180° w/ shoulder girdle) Adduction – downward medial movement of humerus in frontal plane toward body from an abducted position. (75°, 0º trunk rest)Internal Rotation – movement of the humerus medially in the transverse plane around its long axis toward body midline. (70º)External Rotation – movement of the humerus laterally in the transverse plane around its long axis away from body midline. (90º)Horizontal Adduction – movement of humerus in a horizontal or transverse plane anteriorly and across the chest. (135º) Horizontal Abduction – movement of the humerus in a horizontal or transverse plane posteriorly away from the chest. (45º) Note: Reference start position for the “horizontal” movements is shoulder abducted 90°. | Figure 17Figure 18 |
As the shoulder joint performs:
The shoulder girdle and shoulder joint work together in performing upper extremity movements. However, movement of the shoulder girdle is not dependent on shoulder joint movement by shoulder muscles. During the linear movements of scapular elevation/depression and protraction/retraction, it is possible to move the shoulder girdle up, down, laterally, or medially without moving the humerus. However, shoulder joint movements must accompany the angular movements of scapular upward and downward rotation. The following chart identifies the scapular movements that must occur during various shoulder joint movements.
Shoulder Joint Movement | Coupled Shoulder Girdle (Scapular) Movements |
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Flexion | Upward rotation; elevation; protraction |
Extension | Downward rotation; depression; retraction |
Abduction | Upward rotation; elevation |
Adduction | Downward rotation; depression |
Internal Rotation | Protraction |
Lateral Rotation | Retraction |
Horizontal Adduction | Protraction |
Horizontal Abduction | Retraction |
It is important to note though that the muscles of the shoulder girdle are essential in providing a stabilized or fixated scapula so the muscles of the shoulder joint will have a stable base (bone) from which to exert a pulling force to cause shoulder movement. As such, the shoulder girdle muscles contract to maintain the scapula in a relatively static position (static stabilization) during many shoulder joint movements. As the shoulder joint moves through more extreme ranges of motion, the shoulder girdle muscles contract to move the shoulder girdle (dynamic stabilization) into a more functional position so that further shoulder joint movement can occur, while still providing a stabilizing effect on the scapula. The result is that most shoulder joint motion requires coordinated joint action of the scapula and clavicle.
This coupled action between the shoulder girdle and shoulder joint (collectively the shoulder joint complex) is referred to as scapulohumeral rhythm. Without this coupled action the shoulder joint would be limited to only 120° abduction, and high reaching movements would be very restricted. As such, when a person fully abducts the arm 180°, in reality only 120° of motion occurred at the shoulder joint, and 60° was due to scapular motion (upward rotation) at the scapulothoracic articulation with the arm “going along for the ride.”
For every 2 degrees of shoulder flexion or abduction that occurs, the scapula must upwardly rotate 1 degree. This total scapulohumeral rhythm movement pattern - 120° abduction at the glenohumeral joint and 60° scapular upward rotation at the scapulothoracic articulation - can be divided into an early phase and a late phase. Each phase consisting of 90 degrees total ROM. | Figure 19 |
Figure 19
Scapula Rotation
Early Phase (initial 90 degrees)Shoulder abducts 60°, scapula upward rotates 30°.This scapular upward rotation of 30° relative to the ribcage is created by two motions:
| Late Phase (final 90 degrees)Shoulder abducts another 60°; scapula upwardly rotates another 30°. This additional scapular upward rotation of 30° relative to the ribcage is created by two motions:
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Brachial Plexus: Innervation of the Upper Extremity
Spinal Nerve Functions – Sensory & Motor Testing of the Upper Extremity |
As previously mentioned, spinal nerves contain both motor fibers and sensory fibers. The motor fibers innervate certain muscles, while the sensory fibers innervate certain areas of skin. A skin area innervated by the sensory fibers of a single nerve root level is known as a dermatome. A muscle or group of muscles predominately innervated by the motor fibers of a single nerve root level is known as a myotome.
Dermatome: a striplike or area of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve level | Myotome: a muscle or group of muscles innervated predominantly by a specific motor spinal nerve level |
Nerves are typically injured through compression or tensile/stretching forces. When a nerve root in the brachial or lumbosacral plexus is damaged, certain patterns of motor and sensory deficits occur in the corresponding limbs. Dermatomes and myotomes are used to evaluate these deficits when nerve root injury is suspected.
To test for nerve root damage, the corresponding dermatome supplied by that nerve root may be tested for abnormal sensation (Hypoesthesia = decreased sensation, Hyperesthesia = excessive sensation, Anesthesia = loss of sensation, and Paresthesia = numbness, tingling, burning sensation). To test for sensitivity of a dermatome, a pin, cotton ball, paper clip, the pads of the fingers, or fingernails may be used. The patient, with their eyes closed, should be asked to provide feedback regarding their response to the various stimuli. All tests should be compared bilaterally. A cutaneous distribution pattern is an area or patch of skin innervated by a specific sensory peripheral nerve. This nerve maybe be made up of sensory fibers from one or more nerve root levels.
Figure 21 | C1-Top of headC2-Temporal & occipitalC3-Neck, post cheekC4-Superior shoulder & clavicle areaC5-Anterolateral shoulder and upper arm areaC6-Lateral forearm, thumb & index fingerC7-Posterolateral forearm, middle fingerC8-Medial forearm, ulna border, ring & little fingerT1-Medial forearm & upper arm |
Figure 22 | |||
Nerve Root | Dermatome Afferent(Sensory) | Myotome Efferent(Motor) | Functional Application |
C1 | Touch: Vertex of skull | Upper neck muscles | Capital flexion and extension |
C2 | Touch: Temple, forehead, occiput | Upper neck muscles | -Sensation behind ear and post. skull-Capital and upper cervical flexion |
C3 | Touch: Entire neck, posterior cheek, temporal area, under mandible | TrapeziusSplenius Capitis | -Scapula retraction, neck lateral flexion and extension-Sensation to cheek and side of neck |
C4 | Touch: Shoulder area, clavicular area, upper scapular area | TrapeziusLevator Scapulae | -Scapula elevation and retraction-Sensation to clavicle and upper scapula |
C5 | Touch: Deltoid area, anterior aspect of entire arm to base of thumb | SupraspinatusInfraspinatusDeltoidBiceps Brachii | -Shoulder abduction-Sensation to lateral side of the arm and elbow |
C6 | Touch: Anterior arm, radical side of hand to thumb and index finger | Biceps BrachiiSupinatorWrist extensors | -Elbow flexion, wrist extension-Sensation to lateral side of forearm including thumb and index fingers |
C7 | Touch: Lateral arm and forearm to index, long, and ring fingers | Triceps BrachiiWrist flexors | -Elbow extension, wrist flexion-Sensation to middle of anterior forearm and long finger |
C8 | Touch: Medial side of forearm to ring and little fingers | Ulnar DeviatorsThumb ExtensorsThumb Abductors | -Thumb extension, wrist ulnar deviation-Sensation to posterior elbow and medial forearm to little fingers |
T1 | Touch: Medial arm and forearm to wrist | Intrinsic muscles of hand except for Opp. Pollicis & Abd. Pollicis Brevis | -Abduction and adduction of fingers-Sensation to medial arm and elbow |
T2 | Touch: Medial side of upper arm to medial elbow, pectoral and midscapular areas | Intercostal Muscles | -Sensation to medial upper arm, upper chest, and midscapular area |
T3-T12 | Touch: T3-T6, upper thoraxT5-T7, coastal marginT8-T12, abdomen and lumbar region | Intercostal MusclesAbdominal Muscles | Sensation to chest, abdomen, and low back |
Myotome Testing |
The myotomes may be tested, in the form of isometric resisted muscle testing, for weakness of a particular group of muscles. Results may indicate lesion to the nerve root level, or intervertebral disc herniation pressing on the spinal nerve roots. All tests should be compared bilaterally.
**Link to view myotome testing procedures: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKiTwagLYck)
Upper Extremity Myotomes | ||
Nerve Root Level | Patient Position | Joint & Movement Resisted (tested) |
C1-C2 | Sitting | Neck flexion |
C3 | Sitting | Lateral neck flexion |
C4 | Sitting | Scapular elevation (shrugs) |
C5 | Sitting | Shoulder abduction |
C6 | Sitting | Elbow flexion & Wrist extension |
C7 | Sitting | Elbow extension & Wrist flexion |
C8 | Sitting | Thumb extension |
T1 | Sitting | Finger abduction |
Deep Tendon Reflex (DTR): C5-C6: Biceps Brachii C7-C8: Triceps Brachii
Muscles of the Shoulder | |
Pectoralis Major (Clavicular)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Pectoralis Major (sternal)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
CoracobrachialisOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Deltoid (anterior)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Deltoid (middle)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Deltoid (posterior)Origin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Latissimus DorsiOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Teres MajorOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
SupraspinatusOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
InfraspinatusOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
Teres MinorOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: | |
SubscapularisOrigin: Insertion: Actions: Nerve innervation: |
Rotator Cuff | |
The Rotator Cuff is the tendinous cuff formed by the blending together of the insertions of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis muscles. Often remembered or referred to as the “SITS” muscles. These four muscles have important roles at the shoulder joint. They function to:
Injuries: Etiology - Repetitive movement of upper limb above horizontal resulting in recurrent inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon(s) (Impingement of supraspinatus on the coracoacromial arch). | Figure 29Figure 30Figure 31 |
A Few Shoulder Girdle Review Questions |
A Few Shoulder Joint Review Questions |
likely damaged?
your hand - What is the involved muscle group? What is the prime mover for this?
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