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Proprioceptive function of the shoulder girdle in healthy volunteers

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

In 27 healthy volunteers (9 females, 18 males) we evaluated the proprioceptive function of the glenohumral joint. The volunteers were asked to place the arm in different positions with and without visual control. The test was performed for the dominant and for the nondominant extremity. The following joint positions were measured: 50°, 100°, 150° abduction; 50°, 100°, 150° flexion; +45°, 0°, −45° rotation in 90° abduction. Joint position was documented with a motion-analyzing system with passive reflecting markers. The results showed significant differences between the measurements with and without visual control. Proprioception was worse below the shoulder level (50° abduction, flexion). Two volunteers with generally good coordinative capabilities showed better results than the rest of the group. We observed no differences between dominant and nondominant extremities nor between males and females. Our results demonstrated low variance of the proprioceptive function of the glenohumeral joint in healthy volunteers. Our findings serve as a base for further evaluations in different patients' populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48149, Münster, Germany

    J. Jerosch & J. Steinbeck

  2. Institute of Sports Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48149, Münster, Germany

    J. Jerosch, L. Thorwesten & R. Reer

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  1. J. Jerosch
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Jerosch, J., Thorwesten, L., Steinbeck, J. et al. Proprioceptive function of the shoulder girdle in healthy volunteers. Knee Surg, Sports traumatol, Arthroscopy 3, 219–225 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01466621

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