If a patient with a humeral neck fracture has limited abduction, which gliding technique would most effectively increase abduction?

• A. Anterior glide
• B. Posterior glide
• C. Inferior glide
• D. Superior glide

Answer: (C)

When you want to improve abduction at the shoulder, you need the humeral head to translate downward in the glenoid. Because the humeral head is convex on the concave glenoid, abduction involves an inferior glide of the head. Applying an inferior glide facilitates this downward translation, creating more space under the acromion and allowing the head to clear during abduction, which increases range. In a healing humeral neck fracture, this gentle inferior mobilization specifically targets the motion you’re trying to improve without promoting unwanted movements. Other glides affect different motions (for example, anterior glide tends to influence flexion and external rotation, posterior glide influences internal rotation), so the inferior glide is the most effective choice to boost abduction.