It articulates with the clavicle and humerus forming the
shoulder complex. The three bony projections give attachment to a number of muscles and ligaments (Romanes, 1995; Soames, 1995).
Current literature regarding the reliability of EMG to the upper limb, specific to the
shoulder complex is very limited.
The
shoulder complex is a region of frequent movement.
Pain arising from structures around the
shoulder complex are often felt in a wider area, for example the neck, upper arm or upper trunk [10] and thus may be undetected with such a 'self-perceived' definition.
A disruption of any one of these structures tends to be a minor injury without compromising of the
shoulder complex. Conversely, when the complex is disrupted at two different sites, it becomes anatomically unstable leading to longer healing periods and functional consequences.
The
shoulder complex. In: Maria Z, Christopher B, John C, editors.
Functional anatomy of the
shoulder complex. Phys Ther.
The most common injury of the
shoulder complex found in rugby players is injury to the gleno-humeral labrum (soft cartilage) or rotator cuff tendons.
Providing the patient under arm assistance to stand or walk, pulling on the affected arm, or any attempt to move the arm actively or passively without correcting the abnormal
shoulder complex alignment during movement may actually initiate or exacerbate HSP symptoms.
This is because the mechanism of a tackle can lead to the abducted arm of the tackling player being forcibly extended behind the player exerting leverage on the glenohumeral joint resulting in an injury to the
shoulder complex.18
Motion of the
shoulder complex during multiplanar humeral elevation.
The challenge when assessing and treating shoulder pain is working out which structure(s) within the
shoulder complex is responsible for the pain.