Shoulder Mobilization

Original Editor - David Drinkard, Dana Tew.

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Introduction

Shoulder mobilization is commonly used in clinical practice. It is applied in cases where the ROM is restricted. Shoulder mobilization (Maitland technique) is described on this page.

Manual therapy interventions for the shoulder have been associated with improvements in pain and function in individuals with :

1. Subacromial Pain Syndrome,
2. Adhesive capsulitis
3. Rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Below are some of the techniques at our disposal.

Posterior Glenohumeral Mobilization

1. Patient Position: Supine
2. Therapist Position: Force Hand on Proximal Humerus
3. Mobilization: A posteriorly directed force is directed perpendicular to the humerus

Scapulothoracic Mobilization

Scapulothoracic mobilization is performed when there is dysfunction of the scapulothoracic articulation (e.g. restriction of upward rotation or lateral glide). Mobilizations that are commonly used include medial/lateral glides, superior/inferior glides, upward and downward rotation, and diagonal patterns.

• Patient position- typically, the patient is lying side-lying with the involved side up and the arm resting on the therapist's arm. The therapist stands in front of the patient, facing them. Hand contacts for these glides are the inferior angle of the scapula and the acromion. Direction and magnitude of force are dependent upon the technique being utilized and the amount of motion that is desired.