The Relationship Between Thoracic Kyphosis Curvature and Subacromial Space

Objective: Subacromial impingement syndrome has been described as the most common form of shoulder pathology. The literature suggests that the aetiology of subacromial impingement is multifactorial. These causes include anatomical and mechanical factors, rotator cuff pathology, glenohumeral instability, restrictive processes of the glenohumeral joint, imbalance of the muscles controlling the scapula and postural considerations, So that changes in posture presenting as an increasd angle of trunk inclination in the sagittal and frontal plane were observed in patient with shoulder impingement syndrome and changes in posture are a result of adaptive mechanisms. Participants: Fifty five women participated in the study. Subjects' age s ranged from 36 to 40 years (X = 38.0, SD = 2.8) and their thoracic kyphosis curvature ranged from 58 to 70 degrees (by flexible ruler) (X = 65.71, SD = 9.38). Measures: subacromial space was measured on radiographs, in the true AP wiew, from the dense cortical bone marking the inferior aspect of the acromion at a point directly above the head of the humerus and recorded as the smallest distance between this point and the articular cortex of the head of the humerus. Results: Results showed a significant correlations between Thoracic kyphosis curvature and subacromial space (r = 0.58, p < 0.05). Conclusion: width is directly related to severity of thoracic kyphosis and finaly, it can cause the shoulder impingement syndrome.