Diagonal shoulder elevation motion for clinical assessment. a kinematic exploratory study

The 3D shoulder kinematics of 11 male volleyball players was compared at specific humerothoracic elevation angles (15º, 45º, 60º, 75º and 90º) in a) constrained arm elevation movement (in the scapular plane or scaption) and b) functional arm elevation movement (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation diagonal 2 for flexion). Humeral and scapular kinematics was significantly different (p< 0.05) at specific humeral elevation angles between the two conditions. These findings should be considered in future research and rehabilitation of shoulder movement-related problems.