Posterior Shoulder Tightness: To Treat or Not to Treat?

Abstract

Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint that is difficult to treat because of the biomechanical complexity of the shoulder region, the interplay between mobility and stability, and the vital role played by the shoulder in moving, positioning, and providing stability for hand function. Despite advances in biomechanics and pain science, there is still much to learn about how impairments influence shoulder function and health. One impairment, posterior shoulder tightness (PST), is often noted in individuals with shoulder pain and consequently has generated much discussion and debate in recent years. Range-of-motion shifts and deficits are the clinical indicators of PST, with 3 tissue alterations potentially contributing to these modifications: (1) increased humeral retrotorsion (retroversion), (2) reduced posterior glenohumeral joint capsule extensibility, and (3) reduced posterior shoulder muscle/tendon extensibility. The significance of each alteration for shoulder function and the interaction among them remain unclear. It is also unknown if, or to what extent, these impairments can be resolved through interventions. This raises a clinically relevant and straightforward question: when PST is present, should we treat or not treat? In this Viewpoint, we will debate this question and propose that physical therapy interventions have the potential to improve only 1 of the 3 tissue alterations contributing to PST. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(3):133-136. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.0605.