Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The existence of a reflex arc from the glenohumeral capsule to several muscles crossing the shoulder joint was determined in the feline model. Three branches of the axillary nerve terminating in the glenohumeral cap sule were identified and electrically stimulated with su pramaximal, 100-μsec pulses using bipolar hook elec trodes. Stimulation of the anterior and the inferior axillary articular nerves elicited electromyographic ac tivity in the biceps, subscapularis, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus muscles. Stimulation of the posterior ax illary articular nerve elicited electromyographic activity in the acromiodeltoid muscle. Transection of the three articular nerves just distal to their emergence from the main axillary nerve resulted in the absence of any elec tromyographic activity in the muscles on stimulation, confirming the afferent nature of the articular branches. The time from application of the stimulus to the appear ance of a response in the muscles varied from 2.7 msec in the biceps to 3.1 msec in the supraspinatus.

The existence of a reflex arc from mechanoreceptors within the glenohumeral capsule to muscles crossing the joint confirms and extends the concept of synergism between the passive (ligaments) and active (muscles) restraints of the glenohumeral joint. This provides new information in orthopaedic sciences that has direct application in modification of surgical repairs and therapeutic modalities of shoulder injuries.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baratta R., Solomonow M., Zhou B., et al: Muscular coactivation: The role of the antagonist musculature in maintaining knee stability Am J Sports Med 16 113-122, 1988

Gardner E. The innervation of the shoulder joint. Anat Rec 102. 1-18, 1948

Giove TP, Miller SJ, Kent BE, et al Non-operative treatment of the torn anterior cruciate ligament J Bone Joint Surg 65A 184-192, 1983

Hagood S., Solomonow M., Baratta R., et al The effect of joint velocity on the contribution of the antagonist musculature to knee stiffness and laxity Am J Sports Med 18: 182-187, 1990

Hirokawa S., Solomonow M., Luo Z., et al Muscular co-contraction and control of knee stability. J Electromyography Kinesiology 1 199-208, 1991

Itoi E., Motzkin NE, Morrey B., et al: The stabilizing function of the long head of the biceps With the arm in hanging position, in Proceedings of The Eighth Open Meeting of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Park Ridge, IL, The Amencan Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons , 1992, p 27

Kronberg M., Brostrom LA, Németh G. Differences in shoulder muscle activity between patients with generalized joint laxity and normal controls Clin Orthop 269 181-192, 1991

Louie JK, Mote CD Jr Contribution of the musculature to rotatory laxity and torsional stiffness at the knee. J Biomech 20 281-300, 1987

Markolf KL, Mensch JS, Amstutz HC Stiffness and laxity of the knee The contributions of the supporting structures J Bone Joint Surg 58A 583-594, 1976

10.

Matsen FA III, Thomas SC, Rockwood CA Jr Anterior glenohumeral instability, in Rockwood CA Jr, Matsen FA III (eds) The Shoulder Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1990, pp 526-622

11.

McDaniel WJ , Dameron TB The untreated anterior cruciate ligament rupture Clin Orthop 172 158-163, 1983

12.

McKernan DJ , Mutschler TA, Rudert MJ, et al Significance of a partial and full Bankart lesion: A biomechanical comparison Trans Orthop Res Soc 14 231, 1989

13.

Murakami M., Kojima Y., Maeda T., et al Sensory nerve endings in the shoulder joint capsule of the monkey as sensors of dynamic stabilizing system Trans of Combined Meeting of the ORS of USA, Japan, and Canada 1991 315, 1991

14.

O'Bnen SJ, Arnoczky SP, Warren RF, et al Developmental anatomy of the shoulder and anatomy of the glenohumeral joint, in Rockwood CA Jr, Matsen FA III (eds) The Shoulder Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1990, pp 1-33

15.

Rodosky MW, Rudert MJ, Harner CH, et al Significance of a superior labral lesion of the shoulder A biomechanical study Trans Orthop Res Soc 15 276, 1990

16.

Romanes G. Upper and lower limbs, in Cunningham's Textbook of Anatomy London, Oxford University Press, 1964

17.

Rudinger N. Die Gelenknerven des Menschlichen Korpers Erlangen, Verlag von Ferdinand Enke, 1857

18.

Schultz RA, Miller DC, Kerr CS, et al Mechanoreceptors in human cruciate ligaments J Bone Joint Surg 66A 1072-1076, 1984

19.

Solomonow M. , Baratta R., Zhou BH, et al The synergistic action of the anterior cruciate ligament and thigh muscles in maintaining joint stability Am J Sports Med 15 207-213, 1987

20.

Solomonow M. , D'Ambrosia RD Neural reflex arcs and muscle control of knee stability and motion, in Scott WN (ed) The Knee. St Louis, CV Mosby, 1994, pp 107-120

21.

Somjen G., Carpenter D., Henneman E.: Selective depression of alpha motoneurons of small size by ether. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 148 380-385, 1965

22.

Symeonides PP: The significance of the subscapularis muscle in the pathogenesis of recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg 54B 476-483, 1972

23.

Taylor R., Abresch R., Liebeman J., et al Effect of Pentobarbitol on contractility of mouse skeletal muscle Exp Neurol 83 254-263, 1984

24.

Walla DJ, Albright JP, McAuley E., et al Hamstring control and the unstable anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee Am J Sports Med 13 34-39, 1985

25.

Warner Jjp, Deng XH, Warren RF, et al Static capsuloligamentous restraints to superior-inferior translation of the glenohumeral joint Am J Sports Med 20. 675-685, 1992

26.

Warren RF, Kornblatt IB, Marchand R.: Static factors affecting posterior shoulder stability Orthop Trans 8 89, 1984

27.

Wrete M. The innervation of the shoulder joint in man Acta Anat 7 173-190, 1949

28.

Zimny ML, Schutte M., Dabezies E.: Mechanoreceptors in the human anterior cruciate ligament Anat Rec 214 204-209, 1986

The Synergistic Action of the Capsule and the Shoulder Muscles

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References