Popping Sound In Shoulder Blade
My shoulder snaps and pops and I hear. It could be an issue with your shoulder blade. 156 comments on “ My shoulder snaps and pops and I hear clicking.
The scapula (shoulder blade) is an amazing anatomical structure. It is suspended over the ribs between the spine and the arm by only two ligaments.
There isn't a real joint between the scapula and the trunk. Three layers of muscle and bursae (plural for bursa) support this structure. The bursae are small fluid-filled sacs designed to reduce friction between muscle or tendon and bone. These layers (superficial, intermediate, and deep) form a smooth surface for the scapula to move, glide, and rotate over. Because there is movement but no actual joint, this connection is considered a pseudojoint. The scapula gives the glenohumeral joint (shoulder) a stable base from which to operate (move).
The scapula itself slides, glides, and rotates in a 2:1 ratio with the shoulder. This means that for every two degrees of shoulder motion (flexion or abduction), the scapula moves one degree over the thoracic wall. Toast Titanium 8 Mac Serial Number. Scapulothoracic movement requires proper length-tension ratios between the scapular bone and all of the muscles around it. Any change in the glenohumeral-to-scapulothoracic ratio can result in altered or compromised shoulder motion. One particular problem called the snapping scapula syndrome is an example of what can happen when any one of these layers is disrupted for any reason.
The snapping scapula syndrome is characterized by a loud pop or crack when the arm is raised up overhead. The medical term for this sound is crepitus. The sound is made by some soft tissue rubbing between the scapula and the thoracic wall. The tissue caught between these two structures could be a bursa, tendon, or muscle. The person with this problem may or may not experience pain with the movement. There isn't one reason why someone develops snapping scapula syndrome. Studies show that sometimes there's a change in the shape or curvature of the scapula.
After years of movement, the repetitive motion eventually causes a wear pattern that results in the snapping scapula syndrome. When a bursa is involved, the snapping problem could start as an isolated injury or it could be the result of repetitive (abnormal) motions of the scapulothoracic joint. A less common cause is the development of a benign tumor called an osteochondroma. Bone spurs, scapular or rib fractures, nerve injuries with muscle wasting and weakness, or other types of tumors have also been linked with the snapping syndrome. And any surgery to the upper quadrant (e.g., breast implants or other breast cosmetic procedures, removal of a rib pressing on a nerve) can result in muscular changes that contribute to the development of the scapular snapping syndrome. No matter what the cause, the effect is a disturbance in the way the scapula moves over the thoracic wall.
This altered movement pattern is called scapular dyskinesis or scapular dyskinesia. Diagnosing the problem can be difficult. There's no one single test or imaging study that clearly shows what's going on.
Download Time Tech F10 Software Development on this page. Sometimes on visual exam, it's possible to see some postural changes, asymmetry from one side to the other, or an obvious change in the normal scapulohumeral rhythm as the arm is raised up. The examiner also looks at range of motion, strength, and flexibility. If nerve damage is suspected, electrodiagnostic testing can be ordered. X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound have all been used to diagnose scapular snapping syndrome.