Glossary
Useful terms and terminology...
Acromion
The bony prominence on the scapula (shoulder blade) attached to your clavicle (collar bone) that forms the highest point of the shoulder.
AC Joint
The joint between your clavicle (collar bone) and your acromion (see above). This joint is often dislocated to varying degrees following an awkward tackle or fall from a push bike. 
Biceps
The biceps has two (bi) muscles and two tendon portions connecting your forearm to your shoulder girdle. The biceps helps to stabilise, flex and supinate your elbow. It also helps to stabilise your shoulder. 
Bodily Relearning
Far more than just teaching movement strategies, the concept of Bodily Relearning encourages people with shoulder pain to reflect and learn from their bodily responses. It explores how your beliefs, understanding, and perspectives regarding safety of movement all play into bodily protection responses such as pain.
Capsule
A tough, fibrous tissue that surrounds and stabilizes the shoulder joint. It helps to keep the joint in place and provides support during movement.
Deltoid 
The deltoid muscle is a large triangular-shaped muscle which sits over your shoulder and connects to your upper arm about half way down.  It has three (3) distinct muscular heads which help you lift, extend and stabilise your (shoulder) upper arm. 
External Rotation 
A movement that involves rotating the shoulder away from the body. It is an important movement and strength component for activities such as throwing and serving in sports.
Frozen Shoulder 
Also called adhesive capsulitis, some shoulders mysteriously, out of the blue, become painful then stiff. The condition is usually self limiting but not all people recover fully. Recently, risk factors have been identified. Frustratingly, shoulder pain, stiffness and reduction in quality of life may last up to 3 years.  
Glenoid
The shallow socket on the scapula where the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) articulates to form the shoulder joint.
Head of Humerus
The ball at the top of your upper arm bone. It sits inside the glenoid to form your shoulder joint.
Hill-Sachs Lesion 
A divot or impression on the head of the humerus caused by repetitive impact with the glenoid. It can occur in cases of shoulder dislocation and may contribute to instability and recurrent dislocations.
Impingement Syndrome 
The bony prominence on the scapula (shoulder blade) attached to your clavicle (collar bone) that forms the highest point of the shoulder.
Kinetic Chain 
The human kinetic system utilises interdependent relationships between different body segments to transfer energy effortlessly during movement performance. Evidence suggests your shoulder is part of this system and relies significantly on your ability to gather and transfer kinetic energy from the ground, your lower limbs, hips, pelvis, trunk, scapula, forearm, wrist and hands.
Acromion
The bony prominence on the scapula (shoulder blade) attached to your clavicle (collar bone) that forms the highest point of the shoulder.
Acromion
The bony prominence on the scapula (shoulder blade) attached to your clavicle (collar bone) that forms the highest point of the shoulder.
Acromion
The bony prominence on the scapula (shoulder blade) attached to your clavicle (collar bone) that forms the highest point of the shoulder.
Labrum
The bony prominence on the scapula (shoulder blade) attached to your clavicle (collar bone) that forms the highest point of the shoulder.
Long Head of Biceps
The long head of biceps (LHB) tendon crosses the  shoulder joint and attaches to the top of your shoulder socket (glenoid). The other shorter head attaches to a bony (coracoid) process at the front of your scapula (shoulder blade).
Multi-directional Instability
A condition where the shoulder joint is prone to dislocation or subluxation in multiple directions. It is often observed in those with Ehlers Danlos, generalised ligament laxity, shoulder hypermobility, rotator cuff muscle insufficiency and weakness. It can result in chronic shoulder pain and instability, movement anxiety, psychological distress and loss of quality of life. Good news... specific physio can help.
Normal Age-related Change
A condition where the shoulder joint is prone to dislocation or subluxation in multiple directions. It is often observed in those with Ehlers Danlos, generalised ligament laxity, shoulder hypermobility, rotator cuff muscle insufficiency and weakness. It can result in chronic shoulder pain and instability, movement anxiety, psychological distress and loss of quality of life. Good news... specific physio can help.
Overuse Injury 
Rotator cuff tendons hate change. Too much too soon or increasing the demand on your body at a time of already high (lifestyle, work, relationship) demand may be considered a potential system threat requiring a protective bodily response. You might have noticed a few days or weeks after over doing it some arm movements are now painful. 
Pain
Is a protective bodily response reliant on context, current threat assessment, mental state, past experience, learnt behaviours, sticky beliefs and expectations, system sensitisation. Interestingly, pain and tissue damage do not share a 1:1 relationship. You can be sore but safe. 
Range of Motion
The degree of movement that can be achieved at a joint. In the shoulder, range of motion (ROM) includes movements such as flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation. When you move your arm voluntarily it is called ACTIVE range of motion. When someone else, gravity or an implement  moves your arm for you it is called PASSIVE range of motion. 
Rotator Cuff
A group of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) and their tendons which surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff muscles work together to counterbalance forces acting on the shoulder via their common tendon attachments for effortless and coordinated upper limb movements. 
Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain (RCRSP)
Is a protective bodily response reliant on context, current threat assessment, mental state, past experience, learnt behaviours, sticky beliefs and expectations, system sensitisation. Interestingly, pain and tissue damage do not share a 1:1 relationship. You can be sore but safe. 
Rotator Cuff Tear 
A partial or complete full thickness tear of one or more tendons of the rotator cuff. Tears of the rotator cuff tendons can be caused by acute trauma and/or degenerative normal age-related changes. Evidence suggests the majority of cuff tears remain asymptomatic while some full thickness tears can result in pain, weakness, and limited shoulder function.
Scapula Dyskinesis
Abnormal movement patterns of the scapula (shoulder blade) during shoulder movements. 
Subacromial Bursitis
The subacromial bursa is a significant shoulder structure involved in normal shoulder function, performance and protective bodily responses. It is the largest bursa in the body. Bursal inflammation or increased sensitivity (bursitis) may cause bursal swelling, sharp grabbing pain and limited active shoulder mobility. In specific cases, a bursal injection may provide immediate pain relief. 
Subacromial Decompression
A controversial surgical procedure aimed at relieving subacromial impingement by creating more space in the subacromial region. It involves removing or shaving a portion of the acromion and/or the subacromial bursa to reduce compression on the rotator cuff tendons. Recent evidence however suggests compared with placebo, high‐certainty evidence indicates that subacromial decompression provides no improvement in pain, shoulder function, or health‐related quality of life up to one year, and probably no improvement in global success.
Subacromial Pain Syndrome (SAPS)
SAPS is a common shoulder condition characterized by pain and dysfunction in the subacromial region, which includes the rotator cuff tendons, subacromial bursa, and surrounding structures. It is often associated with rotator cuff related shoulder pain (rotator cuff tendinopathy). Symptoms may include subacromial pain during reaching and lifting, pain upon increased loading, weakness, and loss of range of motion.
Winged Scapula
A condition characterized by protrusion or prominence of the lower inside border of scapula due to protective bracing, muscle weakness or long thoracic nerve paralysis of the muscles that stabilize it. It may affect shoulder stability, pain and movement. However, just because things look weird does not mean they are the cause of your pain and dysfunction. 
Please be aware the information contained within the ShoulderRehabSecrets® & ShoulderPhysioAcademy® membership websites is educational and general in nature and should not be taken as a specific shoulder diagnosis or medical advice. Each person's situation is unique. You should consult your own medical doctor or allied health professional before deciding upon what course of action is right for you and I give no warranty and accept no liability should you use this website or purchase a membership without consulting such above mentioned professionals. See full disclaimer above for more details.

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience on this website. By clicking "Accept All Cookies" and continuing to browse this website, you agree and give your consent to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage and assist in our future marketing efforts. For more details please read our Cookie Policy

;