Upper Limb Injuries In Sport Flashcards
What is a stinger/burner injury and how is it caused?
A very common sporting nerve injury resulting from trauma to the neck and shoulder
Most often caused by traction/compression of the upper trunk of the brachial plexus or C5/C6
What is Erb’s point?
Where C5+C6 form the upper trunk proximal to the subscapular nerve - most vulnerable region of brachial plexus
(2-3cm above clavicle in superclavicular fossa)
What are the more in depth mechanics of a stinger injury?
Traction injury caused by shoulder depression with concurrent neck side flexion to opposite side
A direct blow to superclavicular fossa
Nerve compression caused by neck hypertension with ipsilateral side flexion/rotation
How is rotator cuff disease (supraspinatus impingement) caused?
Excessive overhead activities
Glenohumeral joint instability
scapula position (IAG)
anterior translated humeral head
What do the rotator cuff muscles do?
Provide joint stability (muscle coaptation)
What does the subscapularis do?
Resists superior shear and produces simultaneous medial rotation
What does the infraspinatus and teres minor do?
Resists superior shear and provides simultaneous lateral rotation
What happens to the subacromial bursa when impingement occurs?
They often become inflamed
Explain lateral/deltoid balance?
The lat assists in pulling the humerus inferiority
In repeated overhead activities the ratios can become unbalanced due to functional requirement of repeated deltoid action
Explain serratus anterior/deltoid balance?
A stable scapula must be present during deltoid contraction or it will pull the lateral end of scapula and clavicle downwards, creating medial scapula rotation.
The SA resists the medial rotation, if it does occur then scapula winging occurs and as result IAG occurs
What is anterior translated humeral head?
Reduces the size of the subacromial space which predisposes an individual to supraspinatus impingement
(Increased risk in throwing athletes)
Is medial rotation strength stronger than lateral rotation strength?
Yes, lateral is about 0.56-0.62 of medial rotation
what type of action is needed for overhead throwing activities
A fast powerful medial rotation action
