Scapulohumeral Rhythm: Why is it Important?

-

Scapulohumeral rhythm is described as the ratio of movement between the scapula and humerus. It is the synchronized movement with the scapula and humerus. The scapula plays a major roll in shoulder elevation. The scapula helps with upward rotation, posterior tilt, and lateral rotation. Without the scapula, the shoulder would not be able to elevate. The scapulohumeral rhythm needs to be correct in order for the shoulder to function properly. 

There are two joints involved in shoulder movement, the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints. For every three degrees of shoulder movement, there is one degree of movement at the scapulothoracic joint and two degrees of movement at the glenohumeral joint. Scapulohumeral rhythm is essential for full range of motion. The humeral head must rotate for full range of motion to occur. Between the two joints involved in scapulohumeral rhythm, there is joint congruency. The joint congruency in shoulder movement results in decrease in shear forces. This is essential because it allows for good length tension relationship. Good length tension relationship is necessary so that the muscles involved in shoulder movement are able to perform optimally. Scapulohumeral rhythm helps preserve length tension relationships of the muscles involved in shoulder movement.

 Having proper scapulohumeral rhythm also allows you to have pain free shoulder function that is stable. Scapulohumeral rhythm is essential for a therapist to check because weakness of the muscles that control your scapula could be effecting the range of motion in your shoulder. When a therapist measures your range of motion, it may be less than what it could potentially be due to the muscles that control your scapula. If a therapist was to not take into account for the scapulohumeral rhythm, your shoulder range of motion may be less than what it could be or it may be inaccurate. It could make it seem like the shoulder is not capable of reaching a certain range of motion, when it in fact is capable if the muscles that control the scapula were taken out of the equation. Overall scapulohumeral rhythm is essential to take into account to ensure accurate measurements of range of motion. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Research

-
Image
Throughout my time at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, I was enrolled in three separate evidence based practice courses. In these courses, I conducted my own research. Check out my research above! 
Read more

Reflection on SIM encounter #1

-
     While taking a Neuro Aspects course in occupational therapy school, I was required to do a clinical simulation where I administered the SLUMS, which is a screening tool used to identify cognitive impairment. The client that I gave the cognitive screening to was a 61 year old female who had a recent stroke. The client also had COVID. When working as an occupational therapist, cognition is a big part of your practice. Cognition is considered to be the ability to perceive and organize information to enable the person to process, learn, and generalize information. It is how your brain thinks and processes things for them to make sense to you. The SLUMS assessment in which I delivered assessed cognition, and also memory which is a cognitive skill. Memory is the brain's ability to encode, store, and retrieve information. Occupational therapists have a big role in working with individuals who have a cognitive disorder. A big part of this is educating the client on the disor...
Read more

Posture and Body Mechanics: a Sheriff, a Girl, and a Student

-
Image
  This is my boyfriend Colin. He has good posture because he is a deputy sheriff and they must present themselves well to the public.  This is my roommate Lily. She is sleeping with my dog in the car. She is representing poor posture and she woke up with neck and back pain.  This is my friend Sarah. She is looking at her computer reading an email. She has bad posture.  I am choosing to describe the picture of sarah looking at her computer reading an email. As you can see, she does not have very good posture while sitting at a desk.Since she is in a reclined position. Her neck is being strained drastically. She often complains of neck pain which makes sense considering the way she chooses to sit at the desk in class. She has a posterior pelvis tilt as she is reclining in her chair. Her spine is relatively straight but she does have thoracic kyphosis. She has drastic cervical flexion and her head is tilted downward. Her scapulae are protracted and her femurs are intern...
Read more