Principles of shoulder rehabilitation

Abstract

It is well known that the shoulder, by combining the actions across the glenohumeral, scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular, and sternoclavicular joints, provides a unique wide range of functional versatility to the upper extremity, making it prone to injuries and dysfunctions. The strategies of shoulder rehabilitation have changed dramatically over the past two decades: thanks to a better knowledge of its complex arthrokinematics, as well as dealing with selective and well-known conditions (we are at last abandoning the term scapulohumeral periarthritis), physical therapy has reached elite standards in quality and effectiveness, thus allowing better, safer, and earlier restoring of function and painless motion. Nevertheless, all conservative and postsurgical approaches have been fine-tuned, and a good team approach is now a reality almost everywhere.