The Shoulder

Technique

• The patient lies prone resting on the elbows, the shoulders vertically above them.
• The upper arm is brought into slight lateral rotation and adduction by asking the patient to hold the edge of the couch.
• In this position the greater tubercle is lateral and posterior to the acromial rim.
• The spine of the scapula is easily palpated and followed in a lateral direction to the posterior angle of the acromion.
• The tendon of the infraspinatus runs parallel to the scapular spine and can be palpated between acromion and greater tubercle.
• It has the width of about two fingers - one finger lateral and one finger behind the acromial angle - and fills the gap between the two bony prominences.