Looking to the Shoulder Blade for Shoulder Pain!

“Previously, the scapular musculature was often neglected in designing a rehabilitation protocol for the shoulder. In the past two decades a significant amount of research has been performed in order to help identify the role of the scapula in upper extremity function. Weakness of the scapular stabilizers and resultant altered biomechanics could result in: 1) abnormal stresses to the anterior capsular structures of the shoulder, 2) increased possibility of rotator cuff compression, and 3) decreased shoulder complex neuromuscular performance.”  The focus of any shoulder assessment should be on the dysfunction and retraining of the scapular musculature.
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By stimulating and strengthening muscles such as subscapularis, serratus anterior and teres major/minor, dramatic changes can be made in range of motion, pain, and function.

Remember, pain is not necessarily where the problem lies.; we want to treat dysfunction in order to decrease pain.  
 
Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013 Oct; 8(5): 617–629.THE ROLE OF THE SCAPULA
Russ Paine, PT1 and Michael L. Voight, PT, DHSc, OCS, SCS, ATC, FAPTA2
 
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