You might not think your shoulder has much in common with a flower, but here’s the thing…
…way back in history as far as the Ancient Greeks, humans have noticed something interesting about proportion and the way one element links to another. Referred to as The Golden Ratio (or the Divine Proportion), objects that we consider inherently beautiful – such as the repeating pattern of petals in a flower, for example – conform to a very particular pattern of size and distribution. The application to Human Anatomy was popularised by Leonardo Da Vinci in his ‘Vitruvian Man’ drawing.
What does a flower and your shoulder have in common?
And it turns out that your shoulder joint is not much different to that perfectly proportioned flower. Pioneering research conducted by orthopaedic consultant, Mr Edward Ibrahim at Thames Shoulder and Elbow has shown that some people have a very even space between parts of their shoulder blade and the ball at the top of their arm bone and this perfectly fits the Golden Ratio.
What the proportions of your shoulder reveal
This does more than just make their X-rays aesthetically pleasing, however, because it actually has implications for the overall health and function of their shoulder joint. A well-proportioned shoulder that fits the Golden Ratio is rarely affected by chronic shoulder conditions like osteoarthritis and tends to function normally as long is there is not a significant injury.
Conversely, if the space between the shoulder blade and the ball of the joint is too small, the result is usually a torn rotator cuff. Too large a space leads to the development of osteoarthritis.
Building a biomechanical picture of disease and injury
You might think it’s just the luck of the draw whether you are born with a perfectly proportioned shoulder or not, however the story doesn’t end there. Sometimes it is not easy to diagnose shoulder problem because it is a mechanical issue that does not show up well on a scan. By being able to build a detailed biomechanical picture of each patient’s shoulder anatomy, we can predict what the most likely issue will be, and how it may play out in the future. This is invaluable information we use to advise you of a treatment plan. This may include physiotherapy or surgery or both.
Targeted physiotherapy
Years of experience has shown us that the right physiotherapy at the right time is crucial for your shoulder and we work with elite physiotherapists to give you the best treatment available. Using scans and X-rays and our insights into shoulder structure and The Golden Ratio, combined with knowledge of the effect of different muscles on shoulder function, we can advise your physiotherapist exactly where to focus their attention. This may be used post-operatively to help you make a good recovery or we may recommend physiotherapy alone to rebalance your shoulder.
Preventing stiffness
When you injure your shoulder or undergo surgery, your body responds by producing scar tissue which is a natural protective mechanism to prevent the joint from moving too much. That’s why it’s important to have physiotherapy following any kind of surgical procedure or soft tissue injury because without it you can develop stiffness. A physiotherapist will prescribe exercises that can prevent this stiffness from developing. Even after a fracture, once the bones have healed – which normally takes around 3-4 weeks – you need to start exercising your shoulder appropriately to prevent it becoming stiff.
Targeted shoulder balancing
Our research into shoulder structure and the ability to carry out a detailed biomechanical assessment means we can now take our use of physiotherapy and surgery one step further. As well as treating injuries and using it to support rehabilitation after surgery, we can now use physiotherapy in a very targeted way to combat problems caused by the shape and structure of the bones in the shoulder. We are excited to be able to treat the majority of common mechanical shoulder conditions like rotator cuff problems using this ground-breaking approach.
If you have shoulder or upper limb problems and would like to discuss a diagnosis or treatment, including our advanced approach to mechanical assessment and physiotherapy, please contact us.
Orthopaedic Consultant & Surgeon | London
Thames Shoulder & Elbow are able to provide advice and support to anyone experiencing symptoms affecting the upper limbs (shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm and wrist).
Telephone: 020 376 15987
Email: admin@thamesshoulderandelbow.co.uk
Our Locations
Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth, St John’s Wood – Directions
BMI The Syon Clinic, Brentford – Directions
HCA Chiswick Medical Centre, Chiswick – Directions
West Middlesex University Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, Isleworth – Directions
