In part 1 I will discuss:
- Basic Shoulder Anatomy
- Why and How Shoulder Problems affect the whole body
Basic Shoulder Anatomy
The shoulder girdle consists of 4 bones, 3 joints and around 16 major muscles which should all work harmoniously to produce correct, healthy shoulder function. When the shoulder moves it also requires the body to be stable, meaning that the muscles of the neck, torso and lower back must work to help shoulder function.
Bones and Joints of the Shoulder
Starting at your breast bone (Sternum) you can feel your collar bone (Clavicle) across to its end at the tip of the shoulder where it has a joint (AcromioClavicular Joint) with a bony process known as the acromion. The acromion is part of the shoulder blade (Scapula). The shoulder blade (Scapula) also forms the ‘socket’ in which the top of the arm bone (Humerus) or ‘ball’ moves in the commonly known ball and socket joint (GlenoHumeral Joint).
These bones can be fractured or damaged by traumas and the joints are also the sites at which degeneration and arthritis can occur.
Tendons and Ligaments
A tendon is a structure which connects a muscle to the bone. A ligament is a structure which connects two bones together.
Each of the joints discussed above have a capsule that surrounds them. This capsule provides stability to the joint. The ligaments forming these capsules can often be sprained and produce pain or they can become restricted in conditions such as arthritis and frozen shoulder.
Each muscle that attaches to the shoulder attaches onto the bone via a tendon, this equates to a vast network of tendon insertions around the shoulder, all of which can be the cause, or affected by, injury to the shoulder, as can the muscles themselves. Damage to these structures can cause conditions such as rotator cuff damage, muscle pulls and strains, and mid back and neck pain.
Why do shoulder problems involve the whole body?
Many of the muscles which attach onto the shoulder girdle bones also attach onto the:
- Neck (Levator Scapulae, Upper Trapezius, Sternocleidomastoid)
- Mid Back (Rhomboideus, Trapezius)
- Lower Back (Latissimus Dorsi)
- Chest ( Pectoralis, Serratus Anterior, External Obliques)
- Arm ( Triceps, Biceps, Deltoid)
By being aware of these muscles and their actions it is easier to appreciate how an injured shoulder can cause pain/dysfunction in other areas of the body or BE CAUSED by other areas of the body.