What has my shoulder blade got to do with my shoulder pain?
The way your shoulder blade (scapula) moves can be responsible for your shoulder pain.
When the shoulder blade is not moving as it should, it’s called scapular dyskinesis.
When the arm is moved upwards, the shoulder blade moves in a way to assist that upward movement. When the shoulder blade is not moving correctly, the rotator cuff tendons can be irritated or compressed, leading to shoulder pain. This is because the roof of the shoulder is an extension of the shoulder blade, called the acromion. If the shoulder blade is not moving correctly, and scapular dyskinesis is occurring, the distance between the acromion and the top of the humerus (the arm bone) may be reduced, which then compresses the rotator cuff and the subacromial bursa.
At Melbourne shoulder physiotherapy, when we assess your shoulder movements we pay close attention to the way the shoulder blade is moving, to diagnose any scapula dyskinesis that may be in operation.
Part of your treatment routine for rotator cuff pain or bursitis may involve re-education of your shoulder blade movements. It may also involve strengthening and stretching certain muscles around the shoulder blade.
The shoulder blade can be seen as the base of the shoulder, as well as the roof of the shoulder, because it contains the shoulder socket (glenoid fossa), so you can see how important the shoulder blade is for normal shoulder functioning, and how critical it is to a successful rehabilitation of the shoulder.
Dr. Phillip Hughes