4.3 Inferior Instability
- If significant components of inferior instability are present, there is often more generalised
pain around the rotator cuff; in particular the biceps and supraspinatus due to the humeral
head creating a traction effect of these tendons. - With inferior instability the scapula typically sits in depression and downward rotation
at rest, creating more traction around the medial scapula and into the cervical spine; hence
symptoms are often reported in these areas. - This depressed scapula position can also be associated with clicking around the scapula
and the thoracic spine (snapping scapula) due to the scapula rubbing against the thorax and
creating irritation in either the bursa or soft tissues in the region (refs)