Rehab Science - SHOULDER LAXITY

SHOULDER LAXITY ———— A positive sulcus sign, as seen here, is an indication that the passive restraints of the shoulder (joint capsule, ligaments, labrum) are allowing more joint translation than is normally seen. Interestingly, many people who demonstrate a positive test are actually born with this increase in mobility and are not negatively affected by it. However, many will say that a positive sulcus sign indicates shoulder ‘instability’. I disagree with this statement as ‘instability’ denotes a pathological condition and implies that the individual has pain or impaired function or both. This simply isn’t true as many people demonstrate this type of joint hypermobility and have no symptoms.