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Determining the Resting Position of the Glenohumeral Joint in Subjects Who Are Healthy

HT Lin, PT, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan
AT Hsu, PT, PhD, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, and Professor and Chair, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1 Ta-Hsueh Rd, Tainan 701, Taiwan
GL Chang, PhD, is Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University
J Chang Chien, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
KN An, PhD, is Professor, Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
FC Su, PhD, is Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University

Address all correspondence to Dr Hsu at: arthsu{at}mail.ncku.edu.tw

Background and Purpose: The resting position is frequently used by clinicians in the examination and early treatment of patients with joint impairments. However, there is a lack of research on the kinematic characteristics of the resting position of the glenohumeral (GH) joint. The aim of this study was to define the resting position of the GH joint by quantifying the humeral head translation and axial rotational range of motion (ROM).

Subjects and Methods: The anterior and posterior translation of the humeral head and the rotational ROM of the dominant arm were assessed in the seated position at multiple abduction positions in 15 subjects who were healthy by use of an electromagnetic tracking device. A force of 80 N and a torque of 4 N·m were applied during the measurement procedures for the translation of the humeral head and the rotational ROM, respectively.

Results: The mean resting position determined by rotational movement was located at 49.8 degrees of GH abduction. However, the mean resting position determined by translational movement was located at 23.7 degrees of GH abduction and was significantly lower than the resting position determined by rotational movement (t=5.45, P=.000).

Discussion and Conclusion: The mean resting position for rotational movement is consistent with the already accepted range of 30 to 60 degrees for a "loosely packed" position of the GH joint. The mean resting position for translational movement appears to be lower than 30 to 60 degrees. The results of this study suggest that, at least for the GH joint, different resting positions should be assessed with different movement criteria (accessory or physiological movement).

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This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M Ludewig Invited commentary. Physical Therapy, December 1, 2007; 87(12): 1682 - 1684. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H.-T. Lin, A.-T. Hsu, G.-L. Chang, J.-r. Chang Chien, K.-N. An, and F. C. Su Author Response Physical Therapy, December 1, 2007; 87(12): 1684 - 1686. [Full Text] [PDF]