Practice Sessions
1. Quick Postural Assessment of Shoulder Girdle
2. Prone:• Grasp humerus near the elbow and circumduct.
• Palpation of Tissues in Motion going through the muscular tissue, the motion
of the ribs, spine and the scapula.
• Oscillation of vertebrae C7 to T12 via SP’s
• Take Scapula through its various ROM
• Work rhomboids, levator scapula and trapezius… You can also work triceps
and biceps…SITS muscles…
• From far side of client – stretch serratus anterior, work subscapularis
• Myofascial work…especially latissimus dorsi (& may assist with PR-&AF-ROM)
• Spring ribs…
3. Side-lying:• Traction of shoulder girdle via arm: traction/depression & lift into elevation
(can add PIR)
• Take Scapula through rotations…
• Stretch serratus anterior…
• Lift scapula off rib-cage…
• (may address latissimus dorsi again)
• (can translate C-Spine…)
• Seated: kneading of SIT, Up-trap, lev-scap, rhomboids, SCM, scalenes…
• Anterior-Posterior glides to vertebrae…
•“Spencer’s Mobs” – PR-ROM with PIR
• Forward Flexion
• Extension
• Circumduction with compression
• Circumduction with traction/decompression
• Abduction with internal rotation
• Abduction with external rotation
• Active Assisted Inferior glide of GH joint
Supine:• Arm at 90 forward flexion:
• Inferior Glide to GH-jt via MET/PIR
• Lifting clavicle via oscillation … Protract and retract shoulder
• Palpation of various tissues … to mobilize AC ‘fix’ lateral end of
clavicle … SC ‘fix’ manubrium …
• Arm in “neutral”:
• Superior/elevation and inferior/depression
• Palpation and mobilization of cervical segments
• While slowly abducting the shoulder* gently oscillate the GH
joint with compression-distraction…take several minutes to do
so… excellent for treating frozen shoulder.
• Abduct shoulder till slack is taken out of SC and/or AC joints. Flex
elbow to 90. Slowly internally and externally rotate the shoulder:• Palpate joints and tissues….
• Specifically palpate over SC joint….
• Use two fingers to palapte AC joint… challenge…
• Good time to work ribs if appropriate…
• Pectoralis major … minor … subscapularis …
• Biceps … triceps … (freeing neurovascular bundle)
• “Hug shoulder”