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Manual scapular stabilization: its effect on shoulder rotational range of motion
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|July 15, 2000
Summary
Scapular stabilization improves the accuracy of shoulder internal rotation measurements. This technique offers greater reliability for assessing shoulder range of motion, particularly in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Accurate measurement of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is crucial for diagnosing injuries and evaluating treatment effectiveness.
- Traditional methods may not isolate pure glenohumeral joint rotation due to scapular movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of manual scapular stabilization on shoulder rotational ROM measurements.
- To compare the reliability of scapular stabilization technique versus unstabilized measurements.
Main Methods:
- Fifty high school athletes participated in the study.
- Shoulder rotational ROM was measured with and without scapular stabilization.
- Measurements were taken by two blinded physical therapist groups, with repeat testing after 5 days.
Main Results:
- Scapular stabilization resulted in significantly lower rotational ROM measurements.
- Reliability was similar for both techniques in external rotation.
- The scapular stabilization technique demonstrated higher reliability for internal rotation measurements.
Conclusions:
- Manual scapular stabilization is recommended for accurate measurement of pure glenohumeral internal rotation.
- The technique shows promise for clinical trials and monitoring rotational deficits, though further refinement is needed for widespread adoption.