[Truncated abstract] Shoulder injuries rank among the most prevalent and debilitating sustained by professional tennis players. The loads, or magnitude, location, direction, duration, frequency, variability and rate of force application, endured by tissues of the shoulder during stroke production, and more particularly the serve, are commonly implicated in shoulder joint injury (Chandler et al., 1992; McCann and Bigliani, 1994; Kibler, 1995). Indeed, past evidence points to these loads increasing along with serve velocity, as well as with varied segment use (Elliott et al., 2003). This dissertation therefore aimed to quantify hypothesised relationships between certain serve types and techniques, and shoulder joint loading among high performance able-bodied and wheelchair players. . . Of final note is that prospective 3D biomechanical examinations of shoulder joint motion in the tennis serve should consider placement of humeral triads distal to the biceps and/or triceps muscle belly. In comparison to markers placed at the mid-point of the humerus (i.e. as used in this thesis), these more distal triad positions appear to alleviate the spurious effects of soft tissue artefact thereby enhancing the accuracy of estimated long-axis rotation of the upper arm. Although the current representation of 3D humeral motion did not confound the comparisons made between serve types or techniques, it is likely that upper arm triads located just above the epicondyles of the humerus could have offered more insightful absolute comparisons to the literature. Further, the elaboration of a joint coordinate system at the shoulder to provide for the more meaningful and functional expression and interpretation of shoulder joint kinetic and kinematic data should also be central to all future, related investigative efforts.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Durban Institute of Technology, 2008. / Purpose Cricket fast bowlers are prone to the development of Myofascial pain syndrome and in particular active myofascial trigger points in their rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder joint (Scott, et al. 2001). This is due to the severe stresses placed upon the muscles, bones and joints of the shoulder as a result of the high velocity throwing action (Bartlett, et al.1996). In muscles containing active myofascial trigger points a decrease in the stretch range of motion as well as the maximal contractile force is noted, these two factors may negatively affect the speed at which a fast bowler deliver the ball (Travell, Simons and Simons, 1999). Dry needling is viewed as the most effective means of deactivating myofascial trigger points leading to in increase in both the contractile force and range of motion of the affected muscle, which could increase the speed at which the bowler delivers the ball (Wilks, 2003). The aim of the study was to determine the immediate effect of dry needling active myofascial trigger points of the rotator cuff on bowling speed in action cricket fast bowlers. Method The study consisted of 40 participants (randomly split into two equal groups of 20) each with shoulder pain of a myofascial origin. Group A (intervention group) received the dry needling intervention in their most tender active myofascial trigger point. While participants in Group B (control group) received no treatment. Bowling speeds were measured both before and after the intervention, to determine its effect on bowling speed. IV Data was entered into MS Exel spreadsheet and imported into SPSS version 15 (SPSS Inc.,Chicago, Iiiinois, USA), which was used for data analysis. Paticipants were evaluated on bowling speed, Algometer readings and Numerical pain rating Scale (NRS) both pre and post intervention. Participants were also asked if they believed the intervention increased, decreased or had no effect on their bowling speeds. Two sample t-test was used to compare baseline values between the groups. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare the rate of change of each outcome over time in the two groups. Pearson’s correlation analysis (intra-group) was used to assess the strength and magnitude of correlations of the changes in the outcomes. The McNemar – Bowker test and Weighted Cohen’s kappa statistics were calculated to assess agreement between perceived and actual levels of change. Results A significant treatment effect was observed in the intervention group were an increase in bowling speed, algometer readings as well a decrease in Numerical pain rating scale(NRS) scores was observed. There was also a perceived increase in the speed the participants delivered the ball in the intervention group. No significant changes were observed in the control group. The findings of this study indicate that dry needling as a treatment modality would be beneficial to fast bowlers in not only increasing their speeds but also the pain experienced as a result of active myofascial trigger points.

INTRODUÇÃO - A literatura mostra a utilização da radiofreqüência como alternativa em casos de redundância ou frouxidão de tecido, podendo ser empregada como solução em alguns casos de instabilidade de ombro. O presente estudo avalia os efeitos mecânicos da radiofreqüência em cápsulas anteriores de ombros de coelhos vivos. MÉTODOS O estudo é comparativo e randomizado, tendo sido realizado em trinta e sete ombros de coelhos, machos, da raça Nova Zelândia, na faixa etária de 4 meses 6 meses, com peso médio de 3kg 250mg, criados para o projeto e mantidos no Biotério Central da Universidade Federal de Pelotas UFPEL - RS. O trabalho consta de dezoito ombros do grupo controle sendo estes abertos para gerar instabilidade e não submetidos ao procedimento de radiofreqüência; e dezenove ombros do grupo experimento (radiofreqüência), abertos para gerar instabilidade e submetidos a radiofreqüência com tempo fixado em 7segundos numa temperatura fixa de 650C, com tecido embebido em solução salina. Após cinqüenta dias de pós operatório, os animais foram levados à eutanásia. O material foi mantido em -21,40C por quinze dias e, após transportado para o Laboratório de Investigação Medica 21 da Universidade de São Paulo USP - SP, para avaliação de nove variáveis: altura, comprimento inicial sem carga, área da cápsula, força máxima, deformação máxima, tensão máxima, deformação relativa, rigidez e módulo de elasticidade. RESULTADOS Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos controle e o grupo radiofreqüência, para as variáveis força máxima e rigidez (p<0,05), sendo maiores em média, no grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO Desse modo a força máxima e a rigidez da cápsula anterior de ombros de coelhos vivos, submetidas à radiofreqüência em um único ponto, diminui após cinqüenta dias / INTRODUTION literature presents radiofrequency as an alternative tool to be used in redundancy or tissue looseness cases, and to be employed as a potencial solution for shoulder instability. The present study evaluated the mechanical effects of radiofrequency usage in anterior shoulder capsules of living rabbits. METHODS - the study is comparative and randomized, it was carried out with thirty seven shoulders of male rabbits (New Zealand breed), with ages between 4 to 6 months, weighing on average 3kg250g that were raised for the project and kept at Central Biotery from Federal University of Pelotas RS. The study groups encompassed eighteen shoulders as a control group that were operated to generate instability but were not submitted to radiofrequency procedure; and nineteen shoulders as intervention group (radiofrequency), that underwent the same operation procedure but were submitted to radiofrequency by the period of seven seconds at a steady temperature of 650C, the tissue was Embedded in salt solution. Fifty days after surgery the rabbits were taken to euthanasia. The material was kept at - 21,40C for fifteen days and later was taken to the São Paulo University-USP Medical Investigation Laboratory(#21), for the assessment of nine variables: height, unloaded inicial length, capsule area, maximum strength, maximum deformation, maximum tension, relative deformation, stiffness and elasticity module. RESULTS Statistical differences were observed between groups concerning maximum strength and stiffness(p<0.05), that were higher on average in the contrl group. CONCLUSION Maximum strength and stiffness of the anterior shoulder capsule in living rabbits, submitted to radiofrequency in a single spot, decreases after fifty days

In this study I reviewed 28 patients with brachial plexus lesions caused by shoulder dislocation. As far as can be established, this is the largest series reviewed in the literature to date. Contrary to most other reports, the neurological lesions involved the supraclavicular as well as the infraclavicular brachial plexus. The only part of the supraclavicular brachial plexus affected was the suprascapular nerve, and this always recovered spontaneously. Isolated axillary nerve lesions were found to have the poorest prognosis for spontaneous nerve recovery. All lesions that showed no recovery after 3 - 5 months were explored and had either a graft or a neurolysis. This study discusses the combinations of nerve lesions, their recovery and the indications for surgical intervention. I also suggest a classification perhaps more clinically relevant than the anatomical classification of Leffert and Seddon (1965).

No description available.

No description available.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Department of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Background: The most common shoulder complaint seen by physicians is shoulder impingement syndrome. There has been limited success with the current conservative treatment that has been provided for this condition. Thoracic spine and rib manipulation is purported to aid in the treatment of this condition; however there is a paucity of controlled investigations. The purpose of this study was to determine the short term efficacy of thoracic and prone rib manipulation on shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: A randomised, placebo controlled pre-test post-test experimental design was used. Informed consent was obtained and 30 participants were recruited according to inclusion criteria and allocated to either a placebo or intervention group. Intervention consisted of thoracic spinal and rib manipulation. Data was collected, pre and post the first treatment and at a 48 hours follow up. SPSS was used to analyse the data with a p value of 0.05. Results: No statistically significant differences were seen between the groups for pain rating, range of motion of the glenohumeral joint, lateral scapula slide test or scapula isometric pinch test. The shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) showed significant (p = 0.04) differences between the groups in terms of disability scores, with the intervention group having a great improvement in disability. No clinically significant differences were observed between the groups. Conclusion: Thoracic spine and rib manipulation appears to improve the disability associated with shoulder impingement syndrome, however further research is required with a larger sample size.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:19:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5783.pdf: 3013658 bytes, checksum: 554232e857a534b5beaacd869958f849 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-27 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / Background: Shoulder pain is one of the most common and disabling complaints, and shoulder impingement syndrome (SI) is one of the most common causes of this symptom. Recently, several records of pressure pain threshold become useful tools as topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps to assess the state of awareness on various musculoskeletal conditions. However, there are no studies that have proposed topographic maps to assess shoulder sensitivity. Objective: To develop topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps of the shoulder in subjects with SI as compared with healthy subjects, and to analyze the intra-rater reliability of the topographic maps of the shoulder in healthy and asymptomatic subjects. Methods: Initially, 29 predetermined points and 4 points in fixed anatomical locations have been identified on both shoulders of 25 patients with SI and 25 healthy and asymptomatic subjects. The map was determined from anatomical landmarks and anthropometric measurements of each individual. Of all 32 points assessed, 11 are located in bony structures, 11 in muscle bellies, 9 in tendons, 1 on the coracoacromial ligament and 1 over the acromioclavicular joint. The pressure pain threshold was evaluated at all points in the dominant and nondominant side of healthy subjects and in the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides in subjects with SI. The sides and points were randomized prior to the evaluation. The pressure pain threshold was assessed 3 times on each point (20 s of rest), and the mean of each measure was considered for analysis. Results: The methodology used allowed us to characterize a topographic map for assessing shoulder pain sensitivity in subjects with SI. There was no difference between the SI and healthy groups (p> 0,05). However, the symptomatic side of subjects with SI showed higher sensitization (p <0.05), in some locations (points 6 and 7, located on the spine of the scapula and point 10, located on the infraspinatus muscle). The tendons were the most sensitive structures, followed by the bones for both groups. There was excellent intra-rater reliability between the trials of pressure pain threshold for each point (non-dominant side of healthy subjects, ICC: 0.86-0.98; dominant side of healthy subjects, ICC: 0.89-0.96). The standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change presented range, respectively, 28.4-55.9kPa and 66.7-131.4kPa (non-dominant side), 29.4-60.8kPa and 69.6-142.2kPa (dominant side). Conclusion: The proposed topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps of the shoulder was useful for detecting the state of peripheral hyperalgesia in different anatomical structures (bones, muscles and tendons) in subjects with SI, and was reliable for assessing pressure pain sensitivity on the shoulder in healthy subjects. / Contextualização: A dor no ombro é uma das queixas mais comuns e incapacitantes, e a síndrome do impacto do ombro (SI) é uma das causas mais comuns desta sintomatologia. Recentemente, mapas topográficos com vários registros de limiar de dor à pressão tornaram-se ferramentas úteis para avaliar o estado de sensibilização em diversas condições musculoesqueléticas. No entanto, não há ainda estudos que tenham proposto mapas topográficos para avaliar a sensibilidade dolorosa no ombro. Objetivo: Propor e caracterizar um mapa topográfico de sensibilidade dolorosa à pressão no ombro em indivíduos com SI e comparar a indivíduos saudáveis, e analisar a confiabilidade intra-examinador do mapa topográfico de sensibilidade dolorosa à pressão no ombro em indivíduos saudáveis e assintomáticos. Métodos: Inicialmente, 29 pontos pré-determinados e 4 pontos em localizações anatômicas fixas, foram identificados em ambos os ombros de 25 portadores da SI e 25 indivíduos saudáveis e assintomáticos no ombro. O mapa foi determinado a partir de pontos anatômicos e medidas antropométricas de cada indivíduo. De 32 pontos avaliados, 11 se localizam em estruturas ósseas, 11 em ventres musculares, 9 sobre tendões ou junções miotendíneas, 1 sobre o ligamento coracoacromial e 1 sobre a articulação acrômioclavicular. O limiar de dor à pressão foi avaliado em todos os pontos, nos lados dominante e não dominante dos indivíduos saudáveis e, nos lados sintomático e assintomático dos indivíduos com SI do ombro. Os lados e os pontos a serem avaliados foram randomizados antes da coleta de dados. O limiar de dor à pressão foi examinado 3 vezes sobre cada ponto (intervalo 20 s), e a média entre cada medida foi considerada para a análise. Resultados: A metodologia utilizada permitiu caracterizar um mapa topográfico para a avaliação da sensibilidade dolorosa do ombro em indivíduos com SI. Não houve diferença entre os grupos SI e saudáveis (p>0.05). No entanto, o lado sintomático dos indivíduos com SI apresentou maior sensibilização (p<0.05) em algumas localizações (pontos 6 e 7, localizados sobre a espinha da escápula e ponto 10, localizado sobre o músculo infraespinal). Os tendões foram as estruturas mais sensíveis, seguido dos ossos, para ambos os grupos SI e indivíduos saudáveis. Houve excelente confiabilidade intra-examinador, entre as repetições de limiar de dor á pressão para cada ponto (lado não dominante dos indivíduos saudáveis, ICC: 0.86-0.98; lado dominante dos indivíduos saudáveis, ICC: 0.89-0.96). O erro padrão da medida e a mínima diferença detectável apresentaram amplitude, respectivamente, 28.4-55.9kPa e 66.7- 131.4kPa (lado não dominante); 29.4-60.8kPa e 69.6-142.2kPa(lado dominante). Conclusão: O mapa topográfico proposto foi útil para detectar o estado de hiperalgesia periférica em diferentes estruturas anatômicas (ossos, músculos e tendões) em indivíduos com SI, e mostrou-se confiável para avaliar a sensibilidade dolorosa à pressão no ombro em sujeitos saudáveis.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a single versus multiple cervical spine manipulations, over a two week period, on peak torque of the rotator cuff muscles utilizing the Cybex Orthotron II Isokinetic Rehabilitation System. This study was a pre and post experimental investigation. Method: Forty asymptomatic (in terms of neck and shoulder pain) male chiropractic students were stratified into two equal groups of twenty subjects to ensure that each group consisted of an equal number of subjects from each year of study. All subjects underwent a familiarisation session on the Cybex Orthotron II Isokinetic Rehabilitation System. Group One received a single manipulation. Rotator cuff peak torque was measured pre-manipulation, immediately post manipulation and at a two-week follow up. Group Two received four manipulations over a two week period. Rotator cuff peak torque was measured pre and immediately post the first manipulation. A third rotator cuff peak torque measurement was taken two weeks after the first manipulation. Results: There was no statistically significant effect of a single or multiple manipulations on rotator cuff peak torque (abduction, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation). Inter-group analysis revealed a trend of an effect for abduction as the single manipulation increased at the two-week follow up and the multiple manipulation group decreased; however, this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: No statistically significant results were found possibly due to small sample size and the fact that objective measurements were only taken at the beginning and the end of the research processes and not at regular intervals throughout the study.Further studies are needed to determine the effects of multiple manipulations on peripheral muscle activity, including the treatment of symptomatic patients with rotator cuff pathology. It is also recommended that EMG readings be done in conjunction with peak torque measures to determine muscle activity.

Rotator cuff tendinopathy accounts for the majority of cases of shoulder pain, however, the aetiology and pathophysiology of the condition is poorly understood and treatment interventions for the condition have been introduced on an empirical basis, guided only by unproven theories of biological and structural changes in and around the affected tissue. This thesis explores changes in the provision of surgical interventions for rotator cuff tendinopathy, showing a rapid, sustained increase over the last decade. Investigation into the use of ultrasound as a clinical and research tool led to the development of an independent learning method for surgeons using the modality for shoulder imaging and highlighted the technological limitations of contrast enhanced ultrasound in assessing the microvascularity of the supraspinatus tendon. Development of a novel biopsy method for sampling the supraspinatus tendon permitted collection of tissue samples from several cohorts of individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy. These studies, for the first time, described tissue changes across the whole spectrum of pathology suggesting the possibility of an early inflammatory phase of the condition followed by tissue senescence and reduced viability as pathology progressed. Paired samples taken before and after treatment identified reduced tissue activity in response to glucocorticoid therapy and a potential healing response from the supraspinatus tendon following surgical repair. Significant deterioration in tissue activity and viability was shown as age increased in a large cohort of individuals, highlighting the major impact of ageing as a factor in the onset and progression of rotator cuff tendinopathy. The techniques introduced provide standardised, reproducible methods for further evaluation of rotator cuff tendinopathy and the development of novel therapeutic interventions.