Workshop Overview

Muscles around the shoulder girdle are designed for different roles including moving and stabilising the shoulder. Motor control deficits can arise in the region of scapulo-thoracic coordination and translation control in the glenohumeral joint.

Alteration of muscle activation of the scapula-thoracic muscles can result in the scapula adopting a downwardly rotated resting position and a loss of dynamic control in functional arm movements. This can cause a risk of soft tissue impingement under the sub-acromial arch or the coraco-acromial arch. If there is dysfunction in the rotator cuff muscles (+/- long head of biceps) the glenohumeral joint can be at risk of developing instability. A person doing regular exercise or weight training can be at significantly higher risk of injury with these faulty muscle activation and movement patterns.

Detailed movement analysis of shoulder girdle movements will be covered practically, to help you identify faulty movement patterns. Specific low threshold motor control training strategies will be taught to show you how to train control of segmental translation and functional movement of the scapula and glenohumeral joint.

The integration of these training strategies into a wider base of rehabilitation options is discussed. A review of shoulder girdle anatomy prior to attending the workshop is recommended.

Course Outline

8:30am – 9:00am

• Registration

9:00 – 10:30am

• Functional anatomy and physiological considerations of the shoulder

11:00 – 11:30am

• Movement Analysis of shoulder girdle

11.30 – 12:30

• Assessment for control deficits in the scapula and glenohumeral joint

1:30 – 2:30pm

• Motor control training for the scapula

2:30 – 3:30pm

• Motor control training for the glenohumeral joint

4:00 – 5:00pm

• Integration into function and exercise training