Shoulder rehabilitation: principles and practice.

The goal of shoulder rehabilitation is to restore the function of the shoulder. Function can be described in many different ways, but the framework for restoration of function should include restoration of the anatomy plus normalization of physiology and biomechanics. Without the normalization of physiology and biomechanics, the shoulder will not function in a normal fashion. Most of the methods and practice of shoulder rehabilitation are involved in strategies to normalize physiology and biomechanics of the shoulder motion. This study will review the physiology and biomechanics of normal shoulder function and then describe basic principles and clinical practices to restore those functions.