Abduction of shoulder
![abduction of shoulder abduction of shoulder](https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04154547/4-Fig-shoulder-abduction-adduction.png)
This is all review, and nothing has changed - but we must consider that impingement is less of a diagnosis and more of a symptom. To be in this range of motion, you must have perfect flexion, external rotation and abduction. We often refer to this zone as the upper quadrant. The supraspinatus, superior labrum and joint capsule, bicipital tendon and bursa all exist in this tiny space and get impinged upon during abduction at 90 degrees or above. As the humerus moves laterally and approaches 90 degrees of abduction, it begins to impinge upon the acromion. The mechanics of abduction are some of the most stressful movements on the body. Shoulder abduction: mechanics, anatomy and interventions This is a critical concept as we consider how we train our clients to be stronger and more confident in abduction. The shoulder needs to be able to achieve abduction, but it does not have to actively lift itself into abduction. Consider throwing a baseball (in the arm cocking phase), doing a side plank, doing a bench press or push-up, swinging a bat/club, or maybe holding something overhead.Īt this point, you now have to ask: “How did the person get into these positions?” At no time did they lift their arm into abduction. Although, you may have thought of positions where the shoulder is in abduction. Were you able to come up with a time while playing sports, or a time under extreme loads, that a human would raise their arm out to the side into abduction? It has been difficult to come up with a strategy where the body chooses to move into active abduction. Now let us circle back on shoulder abduction. This is an innate skill and the preferred motor control pattern of human movement. In other words, you could not do the movements in isolation you would need to organize your kinetic chain to accomplish this effectively without injuring yourself. Think about these patterns and strategies the body will always try to stack joints and use kinetic linking to its advantage. If you had to move a car by pushing or pulling it, how would you position your body to complete the task? How about if you had to pull your whole body weight up and over a wall or a boulder? What strategy would you use to lift 200 pounds off the ground or hold 100 pounds over your head? What body positions would you find yourself in? Patterns and strategiesĪnother strategy to determine normal movement patterns is to watch humans move under heavy load. Those are two very different movement strategies. Picture athletes and consider when would they abduct their shoulder versus when would they find their shoulder in an abducted position. Considering how the body uses shoulder abduction in natural motion, the best way to see natural, uninhibited movement patterns is in healthy individuals, which takes us to youth - think ages 5-25. Does the shoulder have to actively lift itself into abduction? It is difficult to come up with a strategy where the body chooses to move into active abduction.Īs a client presents with pain, stiffness or a motor control/strength problem, it is a health care provider’s responsibility to evaluate the condition and determine a treatment plan.