Movement analysis of asymptomatic normal shoulders: A preliminary study

doi:10.1067/mse.2001.118481

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Volume 10, Issue 6, November–December 2001, Pages 580-584

https://doi.org/10.1067/mse.2001.118481 Get rights and content

Abstract

The dynamic pattern of scapulothoracic rhythm during arm forward flexion in the scapular plane has been studied radiographically. The technique involves dynamic radiographic screening of shoulder movement in elevation. It has low levels of radiation compared with plane x-ray examination techniques of scapular movement analysis, and the results are comparable to those of previously published studies. We analyzed real-time video images of shoulder movement in 10 young male volunteers (group I; mean age, 35 years) and 9 older male volunteers (group II; mean age, 70 years) with the use of computer-aided software. Group I showed mean arm elevation of 154°, glenohumeral movement of 107°, and total scapular movement of 55°. Group II showed mean arm elevation of 118°, glenohumeral movement of 77°, and total scapular movement of 40°. No statistically significant difference was found in the glenohumeral-scapular or glenohumeral-arm movement ratios of these 2 groups. We conclude that although the total range of arm elevation reduces with increasing age, the glenohumeral-to-scapular movement ratio does not change. The technique of movement analysis described is dynamic, safe, and applicable to clinical studies of shoulder movement. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2001;10:580-4.)

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Fourteen young male volunteers (mean age, 35 years; range, 32-42 years) (group I) were compared with 10 older male orthopaedic inpatients (mean age, 70 years; range, 52-77 years) (group II). None of the volunteers in either group had any shoulder complaints. We chose young male volunteers from among the orthopaedic surgeons in training at our hospital. The subjects stood in front of the screening machine with the coronal plane 30° to the screening board and the palm of the right hand facing the

Results

Arm, scapular, and glenohumeral angles of all 24 subjects are tabulated in Table I.

. Arm, scapular, and glenohumeral angles: Mean values for both younger shoulders (n = 14) and older shoulders (n = 9)

Empty Cell	Younger shoulders			Older shoulders
Empty Cell	Arm angle	Scapular angle	Glenohumeral angle	Arm angle	Scapular angle	Glenohumeral angle
Resting	1.57°	−9.43°	11.01°	26.36°	4.62°	21.73°
FFSP
45°	45°	−0.96°	45.96°	45°	13.03°	31.97°
90°	90°	22.83°	67.17°	90°	26.98°	63.02°
135°	135°	42.18°	92.8°	133.33°	42.08°	91.25°
Full	156.11°	48.63°	107.54°	154°	46.3°	107.7°

Discussion

Arm elevation is a complex 3-dimensional movement of all of the shoulder joints. Many studies have attempted to look at the different components of motion, especially the relative contributions of glenohumeral and scapulothoracic movement. Because the shoulder joint complex is covered with a thick musculofascial layer, accurate goniometric measurements are difficult to make. Freedman and Munro¹ have used static x-ray images to study these movements. McQuade and Smidt⁴ have used electromagnetic

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the help and facilities provided by the Radiology Departments of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, and Hartshill Orthopaedic Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. We thank Professor James Richardson for his helpful advice at the start of the study.

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^*: Supported in part by Hartshill Orthopaedic Hospital Research Trust, Stoke-on-Trent.

^**: Reprint requests: Mr Imtiyaz S. Talkhani, 203-A Queen Alexandra Rd, Sunderland, United Kingdom, SR3 1XS.

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Original ArticlesMovement analysis of asymptomatic normal shoulders: A preliminary study*,**

Abstract

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Abduction of the arm in the scapular plane: scapular and glenohumeral movements

J Bone Joint Surg Am

Observations on the function of the shoulder joint

J Bone Joint Surg

The shoulder

Original Articles
Movement analysis of asymptomatic normal shoulders: A preliminary study*,**