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Writer's pictureJulian Simpson

Shoulder Pain - Is it Quadrangular Space Syndrome

Updated: Jun 20


Shoulder Pain - Is it Quadrangular Space Syndrome

Shoulder Pain - Is it Quadrangular Space Syndrome
Shoulder Pain - Is it Quadrangular Space Syndrome

Although an uncommon cause of shoulder pain, it can mimic other syndromes so we are going to discuss what the signs and symptoms are so you can maybe get better insight into your shoulder pain


Shoulder pain represents one in four complaints to primary health care practitioners


lifetime prevalence is up to 2 in three people will get shoulder pain.


Common causes are rotator cuff disorders, glenohumeral disorders and Ac joint dysfunction


So lets talk about shoulder pain and how similar and different common shoulder disorders are


Suprascuplar nerve entrapment

- the nerve innervates the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles

- it initiates abduction and external rotation

- shoulder pain and weakness in external rotation and abduction


Cervical radiculopathy

- disc herniations, Spondylosis

- C5 and C6 radiculopathy can impact the brachial plexus and then the axillary nerve

- up to 70% of neck disc derangement refers to the shoulder

- can lead to atrophy in the deltoid shoulder muscle


Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

- compression , entrapment and compression of the brachial plexus

- upper extremity Paresthesia

- neck pain

- trapezius pain

- lateral shoulder pain

- heaviness and difficulty with overhead movement

- intermittent Paresthesia are common


Quadrangular space

- the space is bordered by the teres major muscle and teres minor and the long head of the triceps

- the contents include the axillary nerve which arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus at C5 and C6 (sometimes C4)


People with Quadrangular space syndrome have diffuse posterior lateral shoulder pain , problems with shoulder abduction and external rotation


You may also experience fatigue or weakness in the upper limb


More likely in males between 20 to 40


More likely in athletes and active individuals


More in overhead activities that involve repetitive external rotation and abduction

- examples are baseball, volleyball and football


A way we can examine is to get an MRI and see if their is atrophy or fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle


So how does Health Wise Chiropractic treat your shoulder pain caused by Quadrangular space syndrome?

- mobilisation of the glenohumeral joint

- manual therapy to the surrounding muscles

- strengthening of the posterior rotator cuff


Active shoulder range of motion exercise that went to stregthening by 4 weeks is a great adjunct. Research showed after 8 weeks it can improve pain and motion


We have been helping our community for over 10+ years with their muscle and spinal problems. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic at 03 9467 7889 or book online to see if one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Melton/Strathtulloh could do the same for you!


OR


Chiropractic has moved online. We offer our online programs -STAND CORRECTED- To help you through the day.


They contain health advice for your conditions, nutritional advice, and exercises for you to do at home or at the workplace to help you achieve your health goals.


We understand that coming to the Chiropractic clinic may be costly and time-consuming.


This way if you can't make it into the chiropractic office, you can do any of our 20+ online health programs at your leisure.

Enjoy and we hope they spark a little bit of joy and help you achieve your health goals.


Each program contains

- Information about the conditions

- things to do and things to avoid

- nutrition advice

- all the stretches that are needed to help


The following conditions are now available for online sessions

  • migraine

  • cervicogenic headaches

  • cervical facet neck pain

  • tension headaches

  • cervical radiculopathy (pins and needles in the arm originating from the neck)

  • shoulder impingement relief

  • thoracic outlet syndrome

  • frozen shoulder

  • rotator cuff

  • chronic lumbar (Low Back) disc pain

  • acute Lumbar(low back) disc pain

  • Lumbar facet pain

  • sciatica and piriformis syndrome

  • meniscus (knee pain)

  • Plantar fasciitis (Foot Pain)

  • Shin Splints

  • Tennis Elbow/Golfers elbow

  • Carpal tunnel Syndrome

  • Upper Crossed Syndrome( Poor Posture)

  • Lower Crossed Syndrome ( Poor Posture)

  • Dizziness-Vertigo

  • Arthritis

  • Welcome To Chiropractic

  • TMJ (Jaw Pain)




Reference

J Chiropr Med. 2021 Mar; 20(1): 16–22. Published online 2021 May 12. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2021.01.002 PMCID: PMC8134859 PMID: 34025301

Quadrangular Space Syndrome: A Narrative Overview

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