ROLE OF PROPRIOCEPTION IN PATHOETIOLOGY OF SHOULDER INSTABILITY

Proprioception is a specialized sensory modality that gives informatio n about extremity position and direction of movement, This kind of aff erent sensory feedback is probably important in mediating muscular con trol of the shoulder joint, As this articulation is minimally constrai ned, such a coordinated dynamic control of muscles about the joint is necessary for stability during arm motion, The authors evaluated propr ioception in individuals with normal shoulders, unstable shoulders, an d after surgical stabilization, by assessing threshold to detection of passive motion and the ability to passively reposition the arm in spa ce, In normal shoulders there is no difference between the dominant an d nondominant shoulder, though in unstable shoulders there is a signif icantly decreased proprioceptive ability, Surgical stabilization norma lizes proprioception of the shoulder.