Abstract
In 27 healthy volunteers (9 females, 18 males) we evaluated the proprioceptive function of the glenohumral joint. The volunteers were asked to place the arm in different positions with and without visual control. The test was performed for the dominant and for the nondominant extremity. The following joint positions were measured: 50°, 100°, 150° abduction; 50°, 100°, 150° flexion; +45°, 0°, −45° rotation in 90° abduction. Joint position was documented with a motion-analyzing system with passive reflecting markers. The results showed significant differences between the measurements with and without visual control. Proprioception was worse below the shoulder level (50° abduction, flexion). Two volunteers with generally good coordinative capabilities showed better results than the rest of the group. We observed no differences between dominant and nondominant extremities nor between males and females. Our results demonstrated low variance of the proprioceptive function of the glenohumeral joint in healthy volunteers. Our findings serve as a base for further evaluations in different patients' populations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbott LC, Saunders JB, Dec M (1944) Injuries to the ligaments of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg 26: 503–521
Adams JA (1977) Feedback theory of how joint receptors regulate the timing and positioning of a limb. Psychol Rev 84: 504–523
Barrack RL, Skinner HB, Buckley SL (1989) Proprioception in the anterior cruciate deficient knee. Am J Sports Med 17: 1–6
Barrett DS (1991) Proprioception and function after anterior cruciate reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 73: 883–837
Beard DJ, Kyberg PJ, Fergusson CM, Dodd CAF (1993) Proprioception after rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. An objective indication in the need of surgery?. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 75: 311–315
Beard DJ, Kyberg PJ, Fergusson CM, Dodd CAF (1994) Reflex hamstring contraction latency in anterior cruciate ligament deficiency. J Orthop Res 12: 219–228
Blasier RB, Carpenter JE, Huston LJ (1994) Shoulder proprioception. Effect of joint laxity, joint position, and direction of motion. Orthop Rev 23: 45–50
Boyd IA (1954) The histological structure of the receptors in the knee joint of the cat correlated with their physiological response. J Physiol (Lond) 124: 476–488
Brewer BJ, Wubben RC, Carrera GF (1986) Excessive retroversion of the glenoid cavity. A cause of non-traumatic posterior instability of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 68: 724–731
Burgess PR, Clarke FJ (1969) Characteristics of the knee joint receptors in the cat. J Physiol (Load) 203: 317–335
Chain PR, Mutschler TA, Fu FH, Lee SK (1987) Anterior stability of the glenohumeral joint. Am J Sports Med 15: 144–148
Corrigan JP, Cashman WF, Brady MP (1992) Proprioception in the cruciate deficient knee. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 74: 247–250
Davies GJ, Dickoff-Hoffmann S (1993) Neuromuscular testing and rehabilitation of the shoulder complex. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 18: 449–458
Delorme D (1910) Die Hemmungsbänder des Schultergelenks und ihre Bedeutung für die Schulterluxation. Arch Klin Chir 92: 79–101
DePalma AF (1983) Surgery of the shoulder, 3rd edn. Lippincott, Philadelphia
Detrisiac DA, Johnson LL (1986) Arthroscopic shoulder anatomy. Slack, New Jersey
Ecklund G, Skoglund S (1970) On the specificity of the Ruffini like joint receptors. Acta Physiol Scand 49: 184–191
Fick R (1904) Handbuch der Anatomie und Mechanik der Gelenke unter Berücksichtigung der bewegenden Muskeln. Fischer, Jena
Fink C, Hoser C, Benedetto KP, Judmaier W (1994) (Neuro) Muskuläre Veränderungen der kniegelenksstabilisierenden Muskulatur nach Ruptur des vorderen Kreuzbandes. Sportverletzungen Sportschaden 8: 25–30
Freeman MAR, Wyke BD (1967) The innervation of the knee joint: an anatomical and histological study in the cat. J Anat 101: 505–532
Greider TD (1983) Orthopedic aspects of congenital insensivity to pain. Clin Orthop 172: 177–185
Guidera KJ, Multhopp H, Ganey T, Ogden JA (1990) Orthopaedic manifestations in congenital insensate patients. J Pediatr Orthop 10: 514–521
Guille JT, Forlin E, Bowen JR (1992) Charcot joint disease of the shoulder in a patient who had familial sensory neuropathy with anhidrosis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 74: 1415–1417
Habermeyer P, Wiedemann E, Kreusser T, Brunner U, Kaiser E (1985) Anatomical and electrophysiological evaluation of stabilising mechanism of the long head of the biceps brochii. In: Refior HJ, Piltz W, Jäger M, Hackenbroch MH (eds) Biomechanik der gesunden und kranken Schulter. Thieme, Stuttgart New York, pp 66–70
Harryman DT, Matsen FA, Sidles JA (1991) In vivo measurement of glenohumeral stability in eight normal male shoulders. AAOS 58th Annual Meeting. 7–12 March, Anaheim, USA
Howell SM, Imobersteg AM, Seger DH, Marone PJ (1986) Clarification of the role of the supraspinatus muscle in shoulder function. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 68: 398–404
Inman VT, Saunders JC, Abott LC (1944) Observations of the function of the shoulder joint. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 26: 1
Jerosch J, Marquardt M (1990) Sonographische Untersuchung zur AP-Translation des Humeruskopfes bei der aktiven Bewegung bei traumatischer anteriorer Schulterinstabilität. Z Orthop 128: 637–641
Jerosch J, Moersler M, Castro WHM (1990) Über die Funktion der passiven Stabilisatoren des glenohumeralen Gelenkes —eine biomechanische Untersuchung. Z. Orthop 128: 206–212
Jerosch J, Moersler M, Grosse-Hackmann A, Clahsen H (1992) Über die Funktion der Schultergelenkkapsel unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der glenohumeralen Ligamente. Orthop Praxis 3: 147–154
Jerosch J, Clahsen H, Grosse-Hackmann A, Castro WHM (1992) Effects of proprioceptive fibers in the capsule tissue in stabilizing the glenohumeral joint. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, 8th Open Meeting, 23 February, Washington DC
Jerosch J, Castro WHM, Halm H, Drescher H (1993) Does the glenohumeral joint capsule have proprioceptive capability? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthroscopy 1: 80–84
Jerosch J, Steinbeck J, Clahsen H, Schmitz-Nahrath M, Grosse-Hackmann A (1993) Function of the glenohumeral ligaments in active stabilisation of the shoulder joint. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthroscopy 1: 152–158
Jobe FW (1985) Unstable shoulders in athlete. Instr Course Lect 34: 228–231
Johansson H, Sjölander P, Sojka P (1991) A sensory role for cruciate ligaments. Clin Orthop 268: 161–175
Johnson JTH (1967) Neuropathic fractures and joint injuries. Pathogenesis and rationale of prevention and treatment. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 49: 1–30
Kennedy JC, Alexander IJ, Hayes KC (1982) Nerve supply of the human knee and its functional importance. Am J Sports Med 10: 329–335
Kronberg M, Broström L-A, Németh G (1991) Difference in shoulder muscle activity between patients with generalized joint laxity and normal controls. Clin Orthop 269: 181–192
Kumar VP, Balsubramaniam P (1985) The role of atmospheric pressure in stabilizing the shoulder. An experimental study. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 67: 719–721
Lephart SM, Warner JPP, Borsa PA, Fu FH (1994) Proprioception of the shoulder joint in healthy, unstable, and surgically repaired shoulders. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 3: 371–380
Levick JR (1983) Joint pressure-volume studies: their importance, design and interpretation. J Rheumatol 10: 353–357
Lowenstein WR (1960) Biological transducers. Sci Am 203: 98–107
Marks R, Quinney HA (1993) Effect of fatiguing maximal isokinetic quadrizeps contractions on ability to estimate knee-position. Percept Mot Skills. 77: 1195–1202
Moseley Hf, Övergaard B (1962) The anterior capsular mechanism in recurrent anterior dislocation in the shoulder. Morphological and clinical studies with special reference to the glenoid labrum and the glenohumeral ligament. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 44: 913–927
Müller W (1929) Über den negativen Luftdruck im Gelenkraum. Dtsch A Chir 217: 395–401
Perry J (1983) Anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder in throwing, swimming, gymnastics and tennis. Clin Sports Med 2: 247–270
Poore GV (1883) Paralysis of the muscular and articular sensibility. In: Selections from the clinical work of Dr. Duchenne. New Sydenham Society, London, pp 378–398
Post M (1978) The shoulder — surgical and non-surgical treatment. Len & Febiger, Philadelphia
Randelli M, Gambrioli PL (1986) Glenohumeral osteometry by computed tomography in normal and unstable shoulders. Clin Orthop 208: 151
Reeves B (1968) Experiments on the tensile strength of the anterior capsular structures of the shoulder in man. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 50: 858–865
Richards RR, Delaney J (1992) Syringomyelia presenting as shoulder instability. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1: 155–161
Rockwood CA, Matsen FA (1990) The shoulder. Saunders, Philadelphia
Saha AK (1971) Dynamic stability of the glenohumeral joint. Acta Orthop Scand 42: 491–505
Schlemm F (1853) Über die Verstärkungsbänder am Schultergelenk. Arch Anat: 45–48
Schultz RA, Miller Dc, Kerr CS, Micheli L (1984) Mechanoreceptors ceptors in human cruciate ligaments. A histologic study. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 66: 1072–1076
Schutte MJ, Dabezies EJ, Zimny ML, Happel LT (1987) Neural anatomy of the human anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 69: 243–247
Skinner HB, Barrack RL, Cook SD, Haddad jr RJ (1984) Joint position sense in total knee arthroplasty. J Orthop Res 1: 276–283
Skoglund S (1956) Anatomical and physiological studies of the knee joint innervation in the cat. Acta Physiol Scand 36 [Suppl 124]: 1–101
Skoglund ST (1973) Joint receptors and kinesthesis. In: Skoglund ST (ed) Handbook of sensory physiology, vol 2. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 111–136
Townley CO (1950) The capsular mechanism in recurrent dislocation of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 32: 370–380
Turkel SJ, Panio MW, Marshall JL, Girgis FG (1981) Stabilizing mechanisms preventing anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 63: 1208–1217
Warner JJP, Deng XH, Warren RF, Torzilli PA (1992) Static capsuloligamentous restraints to superior-inferior translation of the glenohumeral joint. Am J Sports Med 20: 675–685
Warren LF, Marshall JL (1979) The supporting structures and layers on the medial side of the knee: an anatomical analysis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 61: 56–62
Wyke BD (1973) Structural and functional characteristics of articular receptor system. Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cechoslovaca 40: 489–497
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jerosch, J., Thorwesten, L., Steinbeck, J. et al. Proprioceptive function of the shoulder girdle in healthy volunteers. Knee Surg, Sports traumatol, Arthroscopy 3, 219–225 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01466621
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01466621