Joint position during anterior-posterior glide mobilization: its effect on glenohumeral abduction range of motion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of joint position during an anterior-posterior glide (APG) procedure on the range of motion (ROM) of glenohumeral abduction in cadaver specimens.


METHODS
Mechanical simulation of APG mobilization and abduction torque ROM measurement of the glenohumeral joint with a material testing system. The immediate mechanical efficacy of APG was compared in two groups of specimens at two different joint positions: midrange (n = 5) and end range (n = 6) of glenohumeral abduction.


METHODS
Biomechanics laboratory.


METHODS
Eleven fresh cadaver shoulder specimens (mean age, 66.9+/-2.5 yrs).


METHODS
Improvement in glenohumeral abduction torque ROM obtained before and after APG procedure.


RESULTS
Glenohumeral abduction improved significantly, as indicated by a significant increase (Kruskal-Wallis statistics, chi2 = 7.50, p = .006) in the torque ROM of the end range group (mean +/- standard error of the mean, 2.02 degrees +/- .20 degrees) over the midrange group (.64 degrees +/- .08 degrees). A significant difference in the magnitude of peak displacement of the humeral head between midrange (14.44+/-3.56 mm) and end range (3.19+/-.81 mm) groups was also found (Mann-Whitney test, p < .030).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that APG technique performed at close to the end of the range of abduction is more effective in improving glenohumeral abduction ROM than that performed at the middle of the range of abduction.
Hsu
A T
AT
Department of Physical Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
Ho
L
L
Ho
S
S
Hedman
T
T
D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation