BRINGING SCIENCE TO TREATMENT
in Acute injuries, Shoulder injuries
Chris Mallac discusses the pathophysiology of brachial plexus injuries, how they occur in high-risk sports, and the typical signs and symptoms suffered by the athlete. Brachial plexus injuries (BPI) are a reasonably common injury in contact-sport athletes. These are typically referred to as ‘stingers’ and ‘burners’, and represent a transient and reversible peripheral neuropraxia of all... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Email Newsletters, Shoulder injuries
The shoulder’s rotator cuff consists of four small muscles doing a big job. Known as the SITS muscles, the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, trees minor, and subscapularis help keep the free-moving ball end of the humerus in the shallow glenoid fossa of the scapula (see figure 1). They attach on the ventral, dorsal, and superior portions of... MORE
in Musculoskeletal injuries, Overuse injuries, Shoulder injuries
In a previous article, Chris Mallac explored the unique anatomical and biomechanical features of the subscapularis, the common injury patterns associated with this muscle and the important role it has in shoulder stability. In this article, Chris outlines the classical signs and symptoms of subscapularis injury and provides rehabilitation ideas for injured and dysfunctional subscapularis... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Joint injuries, Shoulder injuries
The subscapularis is the largest and most powerful muscle of the rotator cuff, and an important anterior stabiliser of the humeral head. With that in mind, Chris Mallac explores the anatomy and biomechanics of subscapularis in the first of two articles, including the most common injury presentations. Direct injuries to the muscle-tendon unit of the subscapularis... MORE
in Elbow and arm injuries, Email Newsletters, Shoulder injuries
In today’s feature article, Chris Mallac explores the impact of axillary nerve injury. Damage to the axillary nerve occurs in athletes via a stretch from a fall or shoulder dislocation, compression, trauma, or as an unwelcome result of shoulder surgery. This peripheral nerve injury decreases both the strength around the shoulder, as the nerve innervates... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Elbow and arm injuries, Shoulder injuries
The axillary nerve provides both motor innervation and sensation to the upper arm. Injury to this nerve, as described by Chris Mallac, presents athletes in contact sports with significant deficits. Athletes who participate in contact sports such as football, rugby, ice hockey and wrestling, are particularly vulnerable to injuries to the axillary nerve(1,2). Common mechanisms... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Shoulder injuries
Adam Smith explores the anatomy of the posterior shoulder, outlines the most common causes of instability, and provides guidelines for diagnosis and rehab in the overhead athlete. Posterior instability is a relatively uncommon condition, typically reported in athletes who participate in contact or overhead sports. It is reported to represent as little as 10% of all... MORE
in Email Newsletters, Shoulder injuries
Previous newsletters have reviewed the mechanism of injury, pathophysiology, rehab approach, and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications in the treatment of tendon injuries. Physiotherapist and writer Chris Mallac recently took a deep dive looking at the tendon of the long head of the biceps (LHB). Injuries to this tendon occur in overhead athletes, swimmers, and cross fit athletes. Be curious... MORE
in Anatomy, Diagnose & Treat, Shoulder injuries
In part one of this two-part article, Chris Mallac explores the anatomy and function of the long head of the biceps tendon, and the types of injuries sustained Injuries to the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) are reasonably common injuries in throwing athletes and athletes in sports with repetitive hand-above-head positions. These include swimmers,... MORE
in Acute injuries, Anatomy, Diagnose & Treat, Joint injuries, Shoulder injuries
Chris Mallac looks at a rare and under-recognized variant of normal shoulder anatomy known as the Buford complex. He explores how it differs from normal anterior shoulder anatomy and the implications for clinicians in the continuation of our ‘uncommon injury’ series. The Buford complex is a relatively rare and under-recognised variant of normal shoulder anatomy that... MORE
