Shoulder Center Saar
Biofeedback therapye
The use of surface EMG offers a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic shoulder problems. Muscular imbalances and bursitis are more common causes of shoulder problems than injuries. The shoulder is a muscularly controlled joint. Only through the proper coordination of the individual muscles is the humeral head held in its correct position relative to the socket. The rotator cuff muscles are responsible for positioning the humeral head. These muscles surround the humeral head and, depending on the arm position, ensure that the shoulder does not dislocate (pop out of place) or compress tendons or bursae.
If an imbalance occurs in individual muscles, the humeral head loses its centering in the socket. This often leads to the humeral head "pouncing upward and forward." The result is painful entrapment of tendons and bursae at the acromion. In these muscular imbalances, special exercises often lead to successful healing.
However, accurate diagnosis of these muscular problems can be problematic. The lack of control may result in the wrong exercise program being chosen, resulting in delayed healing.
These problems can be solved using surface EMG. Even minor muscular imbalances can be detected using this technique. The examination is completely painless. Similar to an ECG examination, small adhesive electrodes are applied to the patient's skin. The connected cables can then be used to analyze the activity of individual muscles.
Once a muscular disorder has been correctly identified, biofeedback therapy can be used to guide optimal exercise. Biofeedback means that muscle activity is continuously measured during exercises. The results are displayed as a graph on the computer monitor. This allows both the therapist and the patient to immediately see whether the exercise was performed correctly. If necessary, the exercise can then be immediately adjusted to achieve optimal results. This use of state-of-the-art technology avoids unnecessary surgical interventions.