Alterações no ritmo escápulo-umeral e síndrome do impacto: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

The analysis of the scapular humeral rhythm is crucial for the physiotherapy practice to assess disorders related to the shoulder complex. It is believed that the normal kinematics of this movement is essential to maintain the volume of the subacromial space during upper limb elevation, which is guaranteed by the scapulothoracic muscles. Kinematic changes of this complex may result in decreased sub-acromial space during upper limb elevation and lead to mechanical compression of the rotator cuff and the long head of the biceps tendons and sub-acromial bursa against the acromion and the coraco-acromial ligament and, thus, trigger the shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Therefore, the objectives of this review were to verify and record changes in muscular activation and joint kinematics during the scapulohumeral rhythm in subjects with SIS. For this, search strategies were performed on the PubMed, SciELO, and PEDro databases. There were found three cross-sectional and three quasi-experimental studies. The reviewed articles did not provide conclusive information regarding changes in the shoulder complex related to the SIS, since several muscles, muscular imbalances, and movement patterns were not investigated. Therefore, future studies should be carried out to allow a more comprehensive assessment of the changes associated with the SIS, since the analyses of isolated muscles and movement patterns are not able to provide sufficient information regarding the complex movement pattern of the scapular humeral rhythm.