The techniques of joint mobilization and traction are used to improve joint mobility or to decrease pain by restoring accessory movements to the shoulder joints and thus allowing full, nonrestriced, pain-free range of motion.
In the glenohumeral joint, the humeral head would be the convex surface, while the glenoid fossa would be the concave surface. The medial end of the clavicle is concave anterioposteriorly and convex superionferiorly, the articular surface of the sternum is reciprocally curved. The acromioclavicular joint is a plane synovial joint between a small convex facet on lateral end of the clavicle and a small concave facet on the acromion of the scapula.
The relationship between the shape of articulating joint surface and the direction of gliding is defined by the convex-concave rule. If the concave joint surface is moving on a stationary convex surface, gliding occur in the same direction as the rolling motion. If the convex surface is moving on a stationary concave surface, gliding will occur in an opposite direction to rolling.
Hypomobile shoulder joint are treated be using a gliding techique.
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