Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging: Measurements of Articular Movement of the Shoulder

The purpose of this study is to image the articular joint movement of the glenohumeral joint
utilizing ultrasound imaging (USI). Specific aims include: 1) measurement of the distance
between the articular surfaces at rest; 2) measurement of the distance between the articular
surfaces during manually applied glides of those surfaces; and 3) analysis of any association
between the amount of glide and reported joint mobility, force application, or joint
position.

Subjects will be recruited from a population of convenience. After consenting to participate,
eligible subjects will complete a demographic questionnaire and pretesting of scapular and
shoulder mobility. Two days of testing will be scheduled. On the first day, three grades of
glenohumeral mobilization will be applied in the following directions: distraction, posterior
and inferior. A handheld dynamometer will measure force; ultrasound imaging will record
glenohumeral joint position. Each grade and direction will be repeated three times on the
right and the left shoulder. On the second day, the mobilizations will be repeated.
Measurements of humeral movement will be calculated from the ultrasound images.

Inclusion Criteria:

- asymptomatic subjects with no history of neck, shoulder, or arm pain; full active pain
free range of motion at the cervical spine and shoulders

Exclusion Criteria:

- neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders; connective tissue disorders such as
rheumatoid arthritis; inflammatory conditions such as Crohns disease; Down's syndrome;
Marfan's syndrome; medically diagnosed hypermobility; history of neck, shoulder or arm
trauma, pain, or surgery including dislocation and rotator cuff tears; pregnancy; and
metal implants