The Shoulder - an overview


In the examination of the shoulder you will learn

  • that the shoulder complex dominates the pectoral girdle, it comprises of two bones and three joints, you'll learn their names and their functions.
  • how the structure enables it to combine stability and mobility
  • how the scapula moves on the rib cage to position the arm and increase it's range of movement
  • why it is so important to have the shoulders relaxed when you're playing
  • common overuse injuries and pain syndromes associated with the shoulder.
shoulder-complexshoulder-complex

The shoulder complex dominates the skeletal anatomy of the upper body. It consists of three joints and two bones that connect the main body of the skeleton with the arm.

Its main function is to position the hand in space and as such is the key to a relaxed, efficient technique. Much of the program is dedicated to understanding the role of each shoulder and keeping them soft and in a position that allows us to most efficiently position the hand exactly where we want it.

The shoulder joint itself is a ball and socket joint, like the hip joint. The ball at the head of the humerus fits into the socket at the glenoid fossa of the scapula. For any ball and socket joint the size and depth of the socket will determine how far the ball can fit into it and therefore the strength of the connection between the two structures. The down side is that these strong joints are limited in their range of movement.

The shoulder complex requires a lot more mobility than the hip so it has evolved an elaborate mechanism to maintain the stability of the ball and socket and provide an impressive range of movement.

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