Anterior Glide of the Humerus

Anterior Glide Syndrome is associated with pain during medial rotation, horizontal abduction, and the end range of shoulder extension.  This pain often goes from the shoulder joint down into the biceps tendon and this often leads to a misdiagnosis of biceps tendonitis.  However, treatment for tendonitis will not correct this issue because the cause is left unchecked.

The head of the humerus is pulled anteriorly into the joint capsule because the pectoralis major muscle is more dominant than the subscapularis muscle.  The teres minor and infraspinatus muscles will often be heavily used in this situation.  This inhibits posterior glide of the humeral head and contributes to the anterior positioning of the humerus.  

The primary goal for treating anterior glide is to shorten and strengthen the subscapularis muscle.  Second, we may need to add length to the pectoralis major muscle to create balance between the subscapularis and pecotralis.  Shirley Sahrmann states in her book Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairmant Syndromes that the subscapularis is best targeted while lying prone.  Let the forearm hand off the edge of a bench or table with the shoulder abducted to 90 degrees and the elbow flexed to 90 degrees.  Also she states posterior glide of the humerus is accomplished in a qudruped position.  Start at neutral and push back toward the heels using the arms and not flexing the hips.